Manila: LTFRB to Roll Back Taxi Flagdown Rates

[starchild5]

http://www.wheninmanila.com/ltfrb-to-ro ... own-rates/

To those who are in Manila or planning to go. Good News.

If you’re a regular taxi passenger, we have great news for you! Starting March 9, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, or LTFRB, announced that they will roll back the flagdown rates of taxis by P10. This means that taxis will have a new flagdown rate of P30, and airport taxis will have a flagdown rate of P60.

But LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez warned that taxi drivers will have to manually deduct P10 from the fare. Since the mandate is still provisional, taxi meters have not yet been recalibrated to reflect the new rates. As a passenger, always remember to automatically deduct P10 from your fare.

LTFRB also warned that taxi drivers who do not follow this implementation will be apprehended.

[Rock]

http://www.wheninmanila.com/ltfrb-to-ro ... own-rates/

To those who are in Manila or planning to go. Good News.

If you’re a regular taxi passenger, we have great news for you! Starting March 9, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, or LTFRB, announced that they will roll back the flagdown rates of taxis by P10. This means that taxis will have a new flagdown rate of P30, and airport taxis will have a flagdown rate of P60.

But LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez warned that taxi drivers will have to manually deduct P10 from the fare. Since the mandate is still provisional, taxi meters have not yet been recalibrated to reflect the new rates. As a passenger, always remember to automatically deduct P10 from your fare.

LTFRB also warned that taxi drivers who do not follow this implementation will be apprehended.

IMO, that's an awful decision. I suppose it's a result of lower fuel and gasoline prices as of late. But taxi's in Metro Manila are a pain in the butt and I attribute that in large part to the depressed flag rates and waiting rates. In Metro Manila during busy times (especially morning and evening rush hours), it's very difficult to get a cab. If you are at a mall and in the queue, you may wait an hour or more just to board. The drivers are bitter about the traffic and often try to ask for extra, either by adding to meter or quoting a flat rate.

It's expensive to drive a taxi in Metro Manila. Petrol prices in the Philippines are no cheaper than in certain Asian countries where the flag rates, per km, and per minute waiting rates are much higher. And renting the car (which is what most drivers do) is also expensive. Typically you have 2 drivers using the car for 12 hours shifts each and paying something like 1,800 Pesos per day to the owner.

If flag fall rates for regular white taxis were significantly higher (say 70 like the airport cabs are) and the rate per minute of waiting time was doubled, supply/demand dynamic would probably adjust to make it much easier to find a cab when you need one. Yet even at those prices, taxis in Metro Manila would still be dirt cheap relative to taxis in many other parts of Asia.

In the current situation, I've gotten good at taking jeepneys, MRT/LRT, vans, and busses. Because oftentimes, it's just impossible to find a vacant taxi in Metro Manila when you most need one.

[starchild5]

IMO, that's an awful decision. I suppose it's a result of lower fuel and gasoline prices as of late. But taxi's in Metro Manila are a pain in the butt and I attribute that in large part to the depressed flag rates and waiting rates. In Metro Manila during busy times (especially morning and evening rush hours), it's very difficult to get a cab. If you are at a mall and in the queue, you may wait an hour or more just to board. The drivers are bitter about the traffic and often try to ask for extra, either by adding to meter or quoting a flat rate.

It's expensive to drive a taxi in Metro Manila. Petrol prices in the Philippines are no cheaper than in certain Asian countries where the flag rates, per km, and per minute waiting rates are much higher. And renting the car (which is what most drivers do) is also expensive. Typically you have 2 drivers using the car for 12 hours shifts each and paying something like 1,800 Pesos per day to the owner.

If flag fall rates for regular white taxis were significantly higher (say 70 like the airport cabs are) and the rate per minute of waiting time was doubled, supply/demand dynamic would probably adjust to make it much easier to find a cab when you need one. Yet even at those prices, taxis in Metro Manila would still be dirt cheap relative to taxis in many other parts of Asia.

In the current situation, I've gotten good at taking jeepneys, MRT/LRT, vans, and busses. Because oftentimes, it's just impossible to find a vacant taxi in Metro Manila when you most need one.

That is true...Most of the time, the worst days are dealing with Taxi drivers or getting a taxi...around x'mas time it's a nightmare...I avoid visiting Manila during Xmas times.

The traffic along EDSA has become insane and some days it takes minimum of 2 hours to cross it....

I have lived in multiple places in Manila now and I found Mandaluyong along EDSA to be the best to get Taxi, bus, MRT etc..In Makati its the hardest to get a taxi....In Mandaluyong along Boni ave. easiest...

I found Makati ave. the hardest to get taxi, near burgos...

Also, there are online app now a days like http://grabtaxi.com/manila-philippines/ that one can get taxi from....I believe one has to pay a bit extra for the service but Taxi's arrive on time.