LTFRB sets taxi calibration schedule

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has released a schedule by which taxi operators can have their meters calibrated to reflect the approved fare increase.

LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said those with plates ending in 1 and 6 will be scheduled for calibration from Jan. 24 to Feb. 14.

Those with plate numbers ending in 2 and 7 are scheduled to undergo meter calibration from Feb. 15 to March 11. Those with plates ending in 3 and 8 are scheduled from March 14 to April 4.

Iway said those with plate numbers ending in 4 and 9 are scheduled for calibration from April 5 to May 2. Those with plates ending in 5 and 0 are scheduled from May 3 to May 25.

According to Iway, those taxicabs that would be sent to the LTFRB for calibration should already have receipt-issuing meters installed in them, as required by a board resolution that approved the fare hike petition.

The LTFRB has approved the petition for fare increase filed by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, with the increase covering taxicabs all over the country, except for those in Baguio City.

The new flagdown rate for taxicabs will be up to P40 from the previous P30. There will also be a new rate of P3.50 for every succeeding 300 meters. The present rate is P2.50.

Iway said those who will have their taxicabs undergo calibration beyond their scheduled dates, shall pay P125 for every week they delay.

He said cab operators shall pay a total of P1,115 for the process of calibration, including the testing and sealing of their meters and inspection and verification of their units.

According to Iway, there are 32,730 taxicabs all over the country, 25,889 of them in Metro Manila.