LTFRB: P60 taxi flag-down rate under review

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that the proposed increase of taxi flag-down rates to P60 is currently under review.

In a statement on Tuesday, LTFRB Chairperson Attorney Teofilo Guadiz III said there were still several factors to consider before making a decision, including its possible effects on the Philippine economy.

"Kasi NEDA will ask how the increase will affect the inflation. If it triggers an inflation, then we may not grant the request because the impact of an inflation is nationwide. It will trigger an increase in prices pero kung minimal lang ang effect, we may grant the increase," said Guadiz.

"Hindi lang naman kasi 'yung pamasahe ang pinag-uusapan diyan, eh. 'Yung epekto niyan sa ekonomiya. Siyempre 'yung mga sumasakay ng taxi, especially if there are commodities involved, ipapasa 'yan sa consumer 'yan. So yung effect -- yung presyo ng bilihin natatamaan 'yan," he added.

(We’re not just talking about the fares. It affects the economy. Of course, for the people riding the taxi, especially if there are commodities, the cost will be passed to the consumers. So it will affect the price of commodities.)

Guadiz assured that the LTFRB is looking into the motion for reconsideration to increase the fare to P60, following the approval of an increase of the rate from P45 to P50.

"Since there is a new Board that just came in. We'll give the new Board at least two weeks to take the appeal. Mabilis naman 'tong new Board, (This new Board is fast,) it's just that they came onboard just last week, so they still have to be briefed on the merits of the case before we come up with a decision," he said.

The request to increase the then-P40 flag-down rate to P60 was filed by taxi operators in June 2022.

A P5 increase was granted in September 2022, and another motion for reconsideration was filed in October 2022 for another P10 increase.

The LTFRB amended their initial decision to a P10 increase, raising the current flag-down rate to P50. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News