Commuters told to report abusive cabbies

Cuizon

COUPLES who get exploited by opportunistic taxi drivers can seek redress through the “Oplan I Love You” launched by the regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) in Cebu today.

LTFRB Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said they will visit motels to encourage passengers to file complaints of overcharging and other abuses committed by taxi drivers and complain taxi drivers and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS).

“Because most of the time, customers of those establishments are ‘captured’ passengers, meaning, they have no choice but to bow down to illegal practices of taxi drivers because they cannot just walk out and hail a jeepney along the street,” Cuizon said.

He said these couples are at the mercy of these abusive drivers who know they are the only public vehicles that can transport them to and from motels.
TNVS drivers have been warned not to charge more than the regulated surge pricing.

“For TNVS, surge pricing should observe the maximum of only times two the normal rate,” Cuizon said.

Sanctions will be imposed against drivers including their operators if violations are committed.

Under Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01, penalty for overcharging, refusal to convey passengers and contracting is P1,000 for the driver and P5,000 for operator for the first offense.

For second offense, there will be suspension of franchise while third offense will result in the cancellation of franchise.

Asst. Regional LTFRB Director Reynaldo Elnar said their personnel will place contact numbers in motels to inform passengers where to call if there are drivers who will observe contracting instead of using its meter.

Elnar said the LTFRB-7 will continue to crack down on colorum vehicles.

He said drivers should follow the P40 flagdown rate which resumed yesterday.

Rates for succeeding meters would remain at P3.50 for every 300 meters and also P3.50 for every two minutes of waiting time.