P10 hike in taxi fares sought

MANILA, Philippines – The Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila (ATOMM) filed the other day with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) a petition for an additional P10 charge per trip.

Leonora Naval, president of ATOMM, said the additional charge was for the benefit of taxi drivers whose purchasing power has shrunk amid soaring fuel prices.

“It is really an emergency relief we are asking the LTFRB for our taxi drivers,” Naval told The STAR.

Naval said drivers’ take-home pay has been greatly reduced by rising fuel costs and sometimes they cannot even pay the boundary or daily cab rental to operators.

Drivers of taxicabs, particularly those who do not own the unit, pay to taxi operators a boundary or daily rent ranging from P1,000 to P1,500 depending on the model and condition of the vehicle.

The boundary does not include the gasoline that the driver will use for the whole day.

Naval said that the P10 increase they were asking for would be added to the overall fare registered on the meter for a single trip, in order to avoid having to undergo an expensive recalibration of taxi meters.

Naval said like a tip, the P10 would be added to the total fare that registers on the meter.

 “We hope the LTFRB will grant this. It is a reasonable demand considering the high price of fuel,” Naval said.