Taxi flagdown rate reduced to P30 – LTFRB

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday (March 8) announced that taxi flagdown rates would be officially reduced nationwide to P30 starting March 19.

The fare adjustment also includes airport taxis, which will have a flagdown rate of P60 from the current P70.

The reduction in taxi fares was due to the impact of lower oil prices in the world market.

The decision came almost a year after the LTFRB provisionally cut the flagdown rate of taxis by P10 — from P40 to P30 — due to the series of rollbacks in fuel prices. Meters, however, remained uncalibrated as the reduction was only temporary and passengers were told to subtract the P10 from the total fare.

Current rate vs. new rate

Under the new rate, passengers will also pay less for more distance. Before, cab riders pay P3.50 for every 300 meters on the road. The new rate will have passengers pay the same amount for a distance of 500 meters.

Meanwhile, airport taxi passengers will have to pay P4 for the first 500 meters and an additional P4 for every succeeding 500 meters.

"That is good for commuters because their P3.50 which was 300 meters before is now 500 meters," LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said in a mix of English and Filipino.

However, meter reading will change faster under the new rates. If before, the additional rate applies after every 2 minutes, now it will only take 90 seconds. This was in recognition of appeals from taxi operators and drivers "to recognize the traffic congestion, additional waiting time, and turn around time," Ginez said.

Arnel del Rio, head of the LTFRB Public Assistance and Complaints Desk, however, explained that passengers would still pay less under the new scheme.

The LTFRB also clarified that a different taxi rate will be applied at the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

From the current flagdown rate of P35, now it is down to P30. With a P2 charge for the first 400 meters and for every succeeding 400 meters.

Calibration

Ginez said the flag down rate reduction will be effective on March 19 even if taxi meters aren't calibrated and re-sealed yet. Cabbies who will charge beyond the new fares shall be penalized P5,000 for overcharging.

Calibration of taxi meters will start in April for plates ending in 2, 4, and 9. Plates ending in 5, 7, and 0 are scheduled in May. The remaining are scheduled in June.

Operators should shoulder the calibration cost which is at P250 per unit. It's done twice a year.

But how will the passengers know if the taxi meters are calibrated? Ginez said that re-calibrated units would be using taxi meter seals that are colored fuschia.

CNN Philippines correspondent Ivy Saunar contributed to this report.