Taxi flagdown at P30 next month

After jeepneys and buses and an imminent increase in fare at the railway sytems, the taxi flagdown rates are set to increase next month, according to the Land Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Lawyer Felix Racadio, LTFRB officer-in-charge, said the agency has granted taxi operators authority to increase their flagdown rate from P25 to P30.

"The ruling would be effective in September," he said.

The LTFRB approved the petition of the Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila (ATOMM) to increase taxi fare by P30 for the first 500 meters and P2.50 for the succeeding 250 meters and another P2.50 for every 75 seconds of waiting time. ATOMM president Leonora Naval said they deserve the increase as this is the first time taxi operators asked for a rate hike in the last four years.

Earlier, Naval said the 10-day period given to the Office of the Solicitor General to issue its opinion on their petition to raise their flagdown rate has lapsed since the taxi drivers filed their petition on July 26.

But Racadio said they will no longer wait for the OSG opinion, and will just rule on the petition.

He said the decision was delayed since the ATOMM amended their petition from their initial proposal to hike their flagdown rate from the original P40 to just P30.

LTFRB chairman Ma. Elena Bautista, however, still asked the media to wait for their announcement.

"It is submitted for resolution so let us wait until we announce it," she said. It would be recalled that the LTFRB granted a P1.50 and P2 fare increase for jeepneys and buses, respectively, after they petitioned for the increase, citing increasing oil prices and spare parts.