A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Saturday chastised the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for its refusal to take drastic actions against taxi drivers who refuse to take passengers and those who demand additional fare for their trips.
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said with the suspension of Uber which was his regular mode of transport, he decided Friday to use Grab to bring him to the airport.
To his disappointment, he was refused three times and at least two Grab drivers canceled on him before one finally decided to take him.
“This to me is a clear case of passenger refusal which is considered a violation by the LTFRB. They have been talking tough about imposing severe punishments against taxi drivers who refuse passengers but what about those who do the same through our ride-hailing applications?
Meanwhile, “©airport authorities caught and impounded 11 public utility vehicles since they began implementing a new policy against colorum and out-of-line PUVs operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airports.
Those apprehended, according to Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal, included drivers of taxicabs, Grab vehicles and sports utility vans operating illegally at Naia terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Monreal said most of those vehicles were caught loading arriving passengers at the taxi queuing lane from Aug. 10 to 18.
He added the vehicles were brought to the impounding area at the Nayong Pilipino compound until ordered released by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
The latest operation resulted in the apprehension of a certain Jay on Friday at the Naia Terminal 3 where he accompanied nine newly arrived passengers from Cebu to the open parking and boarded them into a Mitsubishi Montero SUV.
Investigation showed that the passengers were contracted to pay P1,250 from the terminal to Fairview ,Quezon City.
Nograles said that since it was taking too long for his Grab car to pick him up, he decided to cancel his request and get a regular taxi to take him to the airport only to learn afterwards that Grab charged P318 from his credit card.
Apart from charging fares even after a cancellation, Nograles noted that Grab was also equally liable for overcharging fares because of their so-called “auto-surge” which has gone out of control after LTFRB decided to suspend Uber.