The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) XI, and other partner agencies met to discuss sustainable means to curb taxi fare contracting, which has been a recurring concern of riders, especially at the airport.
LTFRB XI Regional Director Nonito Llanos III said in an interview with the City Information Office on Monday that they met on Monday, April 22, 2024, to seek institutionalized solutions against the issues of contracting passengers and overcharging.
The other participating agencies include the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Llanos said even before the recent reports on taxis contracting or charging a fixed rate at the airport, their office had already been keeping an eye on the airport and took part in operations against erring taxi operators.
“Every now and then ginabisita nato ang airport no para i-address ni nga concerns even before, dili lang kutob sa enforcement kadtong February nakig sit down ta sa operators unya ato silang giremind nato sila nga ilaha gyud i-giya ang mga driver nga dili magbuhat sa maong salaod (Every now and then we visit the airport to address this concern and even before, not only in the enforcement level, last February we also sat down with the operators and we also reminded them that they should guide their drivers not to commit these violations),” Llanos said.
He added that they continue to collaborate with partner stakeholders. Last week they had a meeting with the Regional Taxi Operators Association in Davao to plan out the ways forward regarding the issue.
He said he is hopeful that through Monday’s discussion, they can lay properly down the ways moving forward to curb and minimize the issue.
“At the same time mangayo pud ta’g tabang sa atong mga riding public nga ilang ipadala ang ilang reklamo labaw na sa pasaway nga drivers diha (At the same time we are asking the public’s help in reporting erring drivers),” he said.
The public may submit reports to the LTFRB XI Facebook Page, LTFRB Public Assistance Desk, Land Transportation Office XI, and the Davao City Reports 0917 131 2333, and 0919 072 2222; or send an email to davaocityreports@davaocity.gov.ph
Llanos said that based on the latest decision issued by the LTFRB XI Central Office, for the offense of contracting passengers, taxi operators may face a penalty of 5,000 fine for first offense, Php 10,000 with impoundment for 30 days for the second offense, and 15,000 fine with the impounding of the unit and the cancellation of the franchise for the third offense.
According to Llanos, they continue to conduct talks with operators, in fact, they are thankful that through the City Government of Davao’s help, they were given appropriation to hire more personnel that are now assigned as enforcers on the streets.
Llanos said to aid enforcement, LTFRB will soon be empowered to fine drivers not just operators.
“This is a third warning also to the operators and drivers. We are just waiting for our deputization order from the LTO nga atoang mapenalize pud ning mga driver, kay gasalig man gud ning mga driver usahay nga kung naa gani penalty si LTFRB, si operator man gud atong ma penalize dili ang driver, but if our deputation order will come out from the LTO we will make sure to penalize pud ning driver (This is a third warning also to the operators and drivers. We are just awaiting our deputization order from the LTO so that we can penalize the drivers because some of the drivers take advantage of the fact that the LTFRB can only penalize operators, but if our deputization order comes out from the LTO we will make sure to penalize these drivers),” Llanos said. CIO
