The Land Transportation Office (LTO) vowed to go after choosy taxi drivers and “habal-habal” or drivers operating without a franchise, to ensure the safety of the riding public.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II on Wednesday night spearheaded the apprehension of 18 cab drivers and two habal-habal drivers near SM City North Edsa in Quezon City in a bid to send a strong message to erring public utility vehicle drivers and operators that the government would crack down on their illegal activities.
“You cannot go on just like this… choosing passengers and demanding higher fare. You cannot just operate without a franchise,” he said.
“I expect all regional directors and heads and our law enforcement service teams to intensify the campaign for the rest of the holiday season. We have to make an example of these erring drivers,” he added.
He also brushed aside the excuses used by the abusive taxi drivers, saying there is no excuse for violating the law.
Of those apprehended, two of the taxi drivers failed to present a valid franchise to operate, while the nine others were caught in the act of refusing to convey passengers.
Several taxi drivers would even refuse to let a family with babies and small children board their taxi despite the bad weather, unless they agreed to the price set by the driver.
He said he himself has been a victim of such erring cab drivers.
He appealed to the public to cooperate in this campaign by informing the LTO if they have witnessed or were themselves victims of picky taxi drivers.
Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has issued a warning to air travelers about unauthorized rate cards beingused by taxi drivers and illicit transport providers, particularly during the holiday season.
The MIAA urged passengers to report any bogus rate cards to its hotline and social media accounts.
“Beware of fake transport rates. The MIAA encourages passengers to immediately report to our hotline and social media accounts when presented with a bogus rate card,” the airport management stated in its public advisory.
The warning follows complaints about passengers who were overcharged using fake rate cards.
The MIAA considers overcharging fares and presenting fake rates as grave offenses under its traffic management circular.
Drivers at fault face penalties of P2,000 to P5,000, including confiscation and cancellation of airport access passes.
Operations of a concessionaire are suspended after accumulating 20 grave violations in a year. A concessionaire’s contract is terminated after 10 more grave violations in the succeeding year.
On Dec. 16, Mery-ann Falsario posted on social media one such incident, saying: “This is ridiculous!!! I hope you get caught and put behind bars for doing this, scamming foreigners. My bf shared this post with me from a Cebu, Bohol, and Boracay Island FB group for Taiwanese tourists.”
“They were scammed by a taxi driver at Manila Airport after being misled by a guard. The guard falsely claimed there was no shuttle bus to the correct terminal and directed them to a taxi driver in red clothes, who turned out to be part of a scam. The driver demanded an exorbitant fare (10,000 pesos per person) and locked them in the car until they paid. They ended up paying 5,000 pesos after negotiating that they only have that amount of money in their wallet. And the whole trip is only from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4.”
In 2019, MIAA collected about P2.1 million in additional revenues through apprehensions of erring transport vehicle owners and operators.
The airport authority has accredited transport services ranging from car rentals to metered taxis. The public may call MIAA Hotline 8877-1111, TEXNAIA (SMS) 0917-839-6242. Also on Thursday, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III on Thursday ordered bus companies and operators to ensure the safety of their passengers as they travel to their hometowns ahead of the Christmas holidays.
He called on the bus operators and drivers to go the extra mile to make sure that those traveling to their hometowns experience a seamless and pleasant journey.
“I urge bus companies to prioritize passenger welfare, uphold safety standards, and contribute to the spirit of goodwill during this joyous time,” he said.
Erring bus firms and operators will face sanctions, such as heavy fines and the suspension of franchise for failure to comply with rules set by the LTFRB in ensuring the safety of the riding public.
