Commuters' group eyes slashing 'taxi tip'

The National Council for Commuters’ Protection (NCCP) will seek to have the mandatory P10 taxi tip included in the fare reduction petition being deliberated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

NCCP chairman Vicente Millora said the P10 being charged taxi riders in addition to the actual fare is a burden to commuters and must be included in the fare cut deliberation with the big rollbacks in oil prices.

LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion said the taxi tip reduction will depend on a major rollback in the price of liquefied petroleum gas, the fuel used by many taxis in Metro Manila.

He clarified that the P1 fare cut for buses and the 50-centavo fare cut for jeepneys will be implemented this week if there is no more opposition to the move.

Lantion said transport groups have already agreed in principle to the provisional fare cut pending the deliberation of the original NCCP petition, which wants the minimum fare brought down from P8.50 to P7 for jeepneys, P10 to P8 for ordinary buses, and P12 to P10 for air-conditioned buses.

Lantion has invited representatives of oil firms to appear at the Nov. 4 hearing to air their side. – Perseus Echeminada