Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Taxi driver Belarmino Sison has spent the last decade transporting passengers daily.
Income from his trips should meet his family’s needs, but his take-home pay has never been enough.
This was why Sison came up with an additional income source: a mini-convenience store inside his taxi.
Aside from ferrying people from one place to another, Sison also sells biscuits, crackers, chips, and drinks to his passengers.
Cabbie’s inspiration
Sison’s micro-store was inspired by a Metro Manila traffic constable who sells rice cake along EDSA to earn more. He added that the idea seemed like a good one since it was an honest way of getting more income.
“‘Yung ibang taxi — ‘di ko naman nilalahat — merong mga taxi na gumagawa siguro ume-extra, gumagawa ng mga bagay na hindi dapat,” Sison said. “Pinagsisikapan ko na hindi ako ma-short sa boundary para kahit paano kumita akong konti. Kaya naisip ko magdagdag ng kita.”
[Translation: “Other taxi drivers — not all, but some — do things that aren’t supposed to be done just to earn extra. I work hard to make sure that I always get more than the what’s expected from me in a day. So that’s what made me think something that’ll help me get extra income.”]
Sison said that his makeshift mini-bar is also a value-added service for passengers waiting in traffic; hungry passengers can comfortably withstand the heavy metro traffic as they munch on something from the store. The service also includes a possible stopover to pick up items that are not offered in his store or are in his vehicle’s trunk, Sison added.
“Sakaling gusto nila ng soft drinks, ang gagawin ko, sasabihan ko ‘yung pasahero na itatabi ko muna doon sa hindi ako nakaka-obstruct sa daan para kukuha ako ng softdrinks sa likod,” said Sison, who showed how he kept drinks cool in the car’s trunk.
[Translation: “If ever they (passengers) want soft drinks, I’d tell passengers that I’ll just make a quick stop in an area where I won’t be obstructing the road so that I can get drinks from the trunk.”]
‘ ’11’:
And customers have been appreciating Sison’s accommodating disposition. One passenger said that the store is a big convenience for people on the go.
Taxi operator Ricardo Sauler, on the other hand, was hesitant the first time Sison mentioned his plan. But eventually, Sauler gave in to the idea.
The cab operator said he understood some of his drivers really need to earn more. The only thing he asked from Sison was that his running the store wouldn’t get in the way of his primary job — to efficiently and safely transport passengers.
Possible dangers seen
Transport regulators also acknowledged the effort to earn a decent income, but the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) stressed that selling inside the taxi is prohibited because of possible dangers.
Arnel del Rio, head of the LTFRB Public Assistance and Complaints Desk, explained that Sison’s enterprising effort violates the revised terms and conditions under Memorandum Circular 2011-004.
“What the memorandum circular states in its first provision is that operators should ensure commuters safe, convenient, environment-friendly, and dependable public transportation,” del Rio said.
“With this practice (selling inside the vehicle), there is a possibility that the driver’s attention will be divided between driving and selling instead of being 100% focused on the road.”
