42 taxi drivers caught not issuing receipts

CEBU, Philippines - At least 42 taxi drivers were apprehended since June 1 by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for their failure to issue receipts to their passengers.

LTFRB regional director Romulo Bernardes yesterday said some of those apprehended were reprimanded while some were penalized.

He said taxi drivers should issue receipts to their passengers to avoid being penalized.

Bernardes said the first offense carries a fine of P1,500. For the second offense, violators will face a 30-day suspension while the third offense carries a cancellation of their franchise to operate, he explained.

LTFRB is strictly implementing beginning June 1 the new rule for taxi drivers to issue receipts to their passengers.

The receipt includes the name, address and telephone number of the taxi operator, taxi’s plate number, date of the trip, the actual time when the passenger boarded, distance of the trip and the fare.

Several taxi drivers interviewed by The FREEMAN yesterday said that although they are willing to issue receipts, some passengers opted not to get any.

“Daghan man ang mobalibad nga di na lang sila hatagan og resibo kay malangan na sila,” a taxi driver said.

Bernardes said that while he was riding several taxis yesterday, he observed that drivers were issuing him receipts.

The new rule on the issuance of receipt is aimed at addressing the problem of overcharging. It will also help monitor and improve revenue collection.

Taxi operators must get approval from the Bureau of Internal Revenue before the LTFRB will allow the registration of their units.

Aside from the receipt scheme, the LTFRB and BIR will also require taxi operators to submit income tax returns.

Earlier, taxi operators filed a petition before the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the taxi receipt system.

The High Tribunal, however, junked the petition, stating that the taxi receipt system is legal as it intended to ensure the welfare of passengers.

The country has over 33,000 taxi units, of which 10,000 are in Central Visayas.

At the Cebu City Hall, Councilor Arsenio Pacana urged transportation authorities to apprehend drivers of public utility vehicles who refused to grant the 20 percent fare discount to students.

Pacaña said he learned that some unscrupulous passenger jeepney drivers refused to give discounts to students.

Aside from students, the law also required public utility drivers to give discounts to senior citizens.

In his proposed resolution scheduled for discussion during the next City Council session, Pacaña urged the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office to apprehend the violators.

LTO-7 operations chief Aden Belza said he would look into the complaints of the students and senior citizens but asked them to make their complaints formal.

“Kinahanglang timan-an nila ang nawong sa drayber, ang plate number, ang oras ug ang rota sa sakyanan. Mahimong amo dayon nga atangan ang sakyanan aron magka-atubang sila ug ang complainant,” said Belza.

Pacaña said: “With the recent opening of classes, it is indeed an opportune time for LTFRB and LTO to remind drivers and operators to be conscientious of their obligations and not to take advantage of the situation by not giving the appropriate change or discounts to commuters.”

Since classes have already started, Pacaña believed that it is now time to look into the complaint of the public.

Most drivers are collecting P7 instead of the P6.50 minimum fare as approved by the LTFRB.

 The FREEMAN learned from a conductor that a jeepney driver is now earning P800 to P900 a day.

“Ayaw’g saba ha. Ako sweldohan man gani og P250 sa akong drayber matag adlaw,” the conductor said.

Belza said drivers can be apprehended and charged with overcharging if they insist on collecting an amount more than what the LTFRB allowed.

“Makamulta sila og P1,028 kon mamatud-an nga mikolekta og subra nga pletehan,” Belza told The Freeman. — /LPM (THE FREEMAN)