Taxi operators group renews appeal to increase flag-down rate to P70

A group of taxi operators on Monday renewed its appeal to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to increase the flag-down rate from P40 to P70 due to higher prices of petroleum products.

“Wala (Nothing),” Philippine National Taxi Operators Association president Bong Suntay said when asked if the LTFRB already responded to the request during an interview on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

“In fact, yung apela na ‘yan, one year pending na yan dahil that was the original petition filed by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association way back noong 2021,” he added.

(In fact, the appeal has been pending for a year because that was the original petition filed by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association way back in 2021.)

Suntay said the last time they were granted an increase was in 2017 when the price of gasoline was ranging from P34 to P38. According to him, its price is now at P68.

Previously, Suntay said the LTFRB approved a fare increase of P5 for taxis. However, he said the taxi operators did not impose it as they insisted their appeal for an additional P30 to the flag-down rate.

He said the taxi operators group filed a motion for reconsideration on the matter.

According to Suntay, the boundary for taxis also stayed at around P900 to P1,300 for 15 years. Boundary is the amount of money taxi drivers need to give their operators in exchange for using their taxis.

“Gusto namin ng fare increase para kumita yung driver. Kapag kumikita yung driver, maglalabas sila ng taxi. Kapag naglabas sila ng taxi, kikita yung operator kasi nauutilize yung mga units nila,” he said.

(We want fare increases so our drivers would profit. If they are gaining profit, they will use the taxis. If they are using the taxis, operators will also gain profit because their units are being utilized.)

Citing industry estimates based on the four-day oil trading from August 14 to 17, Oil Industry Management Bureau Assistant Director Rodela Romero on Friday said gasoline prices may go up this week, which could mark its sixth straight week of hikes:

• Gasoline - may increase by P0.90 to P1.20 per liter
• Diesel - may have no adjustment or a rollback of P0.20 per liter
• Kerosene - may go up by P0.40 to P0.70 per liter

The projected mixed movements on fuel pump prices are “attributed to the economic slowdown of China and the gradual decline in demand, signs of resurgent of US inflation, stronger dollar, and bigger than expected draw in US inventories,” according to Romero. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News