CEBU CITY, Philippines - Taxi drivers in Cebu are delighted after learning that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved their petition to raise the flag down rate of taxis to P40 and P3.50 for every 300 meters. The new taxi fare increase will take effect starting January 15 but Richard Cabucos, President of the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association (MCTOA) said he and his group might not be able to implement the increase immediately as 99 percent of taxi operators have no metering receipts. Installation of a metering receipt is one of the requirements imposed by LTFRB before a taxi's meter can be calibrated and adjusted for the new rates, according to newly-installed LTFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon.
Cuizon said the LTFRB will not allow the manual issuance of receipts this time so operators, who are yet to upgrade their meters, have barely three weeks to comply. The cheapest metering receipt costs between P3,000 to P4,000. There are more than 6,000 taxi units operating in Central Visayas, with some 4,000 of them owned by members of MCTOA. Drivers must also wear uniforms at all times and must issue a receipt to a passenger whether or not the passenger asks for one. For every violation of the rule, the driver or operator will pay a fine of P2,500. Cabucos said that they are not expecting complaints from the general public because he said that in the first place, their market is only those who can afford cab service.
