by Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board of Northern Mindanao (LTFRB-10) has asked the commuters to report any irregularities committed by taxi drivers here.
The LTFRB-Reg. 10, in its Facebook post, said that details including plate number, operator’s name, trade name and the body number of the taxi must be taken should any passenger find any irregularity being committed by a taxi driver.
The agency issued the reminders amid allegations that numerous taxis, particularly in the Macabalan Port of Cagayan de Oro, were either over-charging their fare rates or resorting to a practice of ‘contracting’ the passengers instead of using meters.
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LTFRB-10 director Aminoden Guro said the agency did receive complaints from commuters who were victimized by scrupulous taxi drivers.
The agency also said it had received a resolution from the city council urging LTFRB-10 to solve the matter.
Councilor James Judith II, during the regular session of the city council on Jan. 30, presented his special report on the alleged over-charging of fare rates and contracting of passengers in Macabalan port.
Judith said that drivers in various public utility vehicles (PUV) in Macabalan port refused passengers who are not in favor of their fare contract.
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“Kung dili nato ni masumpo, makahatag baya ni og kadaot sa kadungganan ug imahen sa atong dakbayan (If we failed to solve this, it would bring damage to the reputation and image to our city),” said Judith.
“Maka-ingon ang atong mga bisita, asa naman ang giingon nga dakbayan sa bulawanong panaghigalaay (Our visitors would say, where is the so-called city
Jeannette Solas, a resident here, said a taxi driver asked for a fare amounting to around P400-P600 just for Barangay Nazareth destination.
“Giingnan nakog metro ra boss dili musugot. Ingnan pa kag “wala kay masakyan diha dam nga musugot og metro. Sige na dam ulan bya mangabasa mo (I said just use the (taxi) meter, Boss. He refused. And I was told “You cannot find a (public utility) vehicle there, Madam. Just go for it. It’s raining, you all get wet),” Solas said in her comment on LTFRB-10’s post pertaining to the inspection it conducted in Macabalan port.
Apart from the inspection in Macabalan port, the LTFRB-10 also conducted inspections on taxi drivers in the Cogon area here on complaints about taxi drivers refusing passengers.
A taxi or any PUV under the jurisdiction of LTFRB may be meted with a fine of P5000 in first offense if found to be over-charging or refusing passengers, P10,000 in second offense and P15,000 in third offense.
