Taxi operators group bucks rollback in taxicab fare

MANILA, Philippines – While some operators of passenger jeepneys have proposed a 50-centavo cut in minimum fare, a taxi operator has rejected a rollback of rates for taxicabs amid the continued decline in prices of gasoline and other petroleum products.

National Taxi Operators Association president Bong Suntay said that reducing taxi fares is illogical even if there is a big time rollback of gas prices because gas consumption increases due to the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

Suntay said taxis also face tough competition after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted provisional authority for the operations of taxi alternative Uber and GrabCar.

He said a fare cut should only apply to mass transport systems such as public utility buses and jeepneys since they would still earn even if they impose a fare cut.

Piston president George San Mateo said that a big time rollback on gasoline prices is a welcome development to them, even if a fare reduction includes commuter jeepneys.

He said that reducing the fare of public utility jeepneys from P7.50 to P7 is a manifestation that they are doing their “social responsibility.”

San Mateo, however, said that they are not part of the transport groups that filed a petition before the LTFRB for a fare reduction.

Following the big time rollback of gasoline prices, San Mateo appealed to the government to also implement a significant reduction on the prices of basic commodities, spare parts and social services.

ACTO president Efren de Luna is proposing a 50-centavo reduction on the minimum fare in public utility jeepneys, but LTFRB member Ariel Inton said that they would wait for the petition for a fare cut to be filed.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said they would call for a meeting with transport groups to discuss the proposed fare reduction.