Regular white taxis can now pick up passengers at the arrival areas of all Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals beginning Monday (July 18).
In its advisory Saturday, the Manila International Airport Authority-Public Affairs Department stated that MIAA general manager Ed Monreal will “oversee the conduct of regular taxi operation at Naia Terminal 3, 7 a.m., Monday, July 18, 2016. Implementation will be simultaneous in all Naia terminals.”
The move, according to Monreal, was made to give passengers other option or choice of transportation to their destination. He said allowing the white taxis will also address the shortage of airport-accredited transportation units.
The airport authority last Friday held a dry run where regular white taxis were allowed to queue up at the designated areas and pick up points in their assigned terminals.
“The Naia does not have enough accredited taxis and vehicles-for-hire to take thousands of domestic and international passenger arriving daily,” Monreal said, adding that the previous MIAA management was on the right track when it introduced accredited buses and allowed Grab car services at the airport.
To ensure the safety of the riding public, the official said, dispatch slip with the name of the driver, taxi plate number, name of the operator and the important hotline numbers will be given to passengers while a copy of the taxi slip will be retained by the dispatcher at the Naia.
Monreal assured the public that every complaint made by passengers will be resolved within 72 hours.
The airport chief, however. warned taxi drivers to refrain from any nefarious activities once they open for regular taxis. He said erring taxi drivers will be banned from entering the four terminals of the Naia and their license will be revoked once they are proven guilty of any violations under the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board and the Land Transportation Office.
The airport accredited transport concessionaires meanwhile are planning to have a dialogue with Monreal regarding the matter.
The MIAA early this year allowed Grab taxi to operate at the Naia and was considering to open the route for Uber taxis.
But the accredited transport company could not supply the required 200 utility vehicles to service the influx of passengers during daily peak periods between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Naia Terminal 3 manager Ric Medalla said major passenger terminals have thousands of incoming passengers a day, most of them arriving practically at the peak-hour window. He added the MIAA has been criticized for the lack of transportation which is why the authority considered opening the airport to non-accredited taxi companies.
Airport Transportation Concessionaires Association Inc. comprised of coupon taxis, rent-a-car service and accredited yellow taxis earlier said the addition of other transportation services at the Naia could jeopardize the safety and security of the riding public.