‘Oplan Isnabero’ nets 1,440 cabbies, operators

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have summoned at least 1,440 taxi drivers and operators in Metro Manila for various offenses, including refusing to convey passengers to their destination, a top official said yesterday.

LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion said they have summoned 190 taxi operators while LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya, through his executive assistant Fernando Quiambao, said they have also summoned 1,350 erring drivers under the government’s “Oplan Isnabero” campaign against choosy, trip-cutting public utility vehicle drivers.

Quiambao said Berroya has created a special investigation team to attend to all the complaints they have received through calls, text messages and letters.

The investigation team will be composed of expert investigators under the direct supervision of the Office of the Assistant Secretary and Berroya.

According to Quiambao, the LTO receives 100 to 150 complaints per day, with drivers refusing to convey passengers and fast or defective taxi meters among the most common complaints.

Quiambao assured the public that the LTO is doing its best to resolve all the complaints filed by the riding public.

Lantion said erring taxi operators face a P3,000 fine for the first offense.

“The refusal to convey passengers and contracting are violation of their franchises. A fine of P6,000 will be imposed for the second offense and revocation of franchise for the third offense,” he told The STAR.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) launched “Oplan Isnabero” to curb the incidence of taxi drivers refusing to convey passengers during peak hours.

The LTFRB and the LTO have set up complaint booths in key areas, including malls. In some cases where traffic enforcers are within the vicinity, taxi drivers may be apprehended on the spot and issued traffic violation receipts.

However, in areas where there are no traffic enforcers, a complainant may take down the plate number and name of the taxi, time and place of the incident and report it to the LTRFB complaint booth along East Avenue in Quezon City.

“As soon as we received the report we will send summons to the operators. It’s a serious offense so they must appear for confrontation with the complainants,” Lantion said.