Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — Taxi operators are urging the government to approve their petition filed in March that seeks to raise the flag-down rate from ₱40 to ₱60 amid the hefty fuel price hike.
Philippine National Taxi Operators Association president Bong Suntay on Wednesday said some drivers are opting not to drive their taxi units due to the big-time fuel price hike that is not showing signs of slowing down.
This year’s upward adjustment has raised diesel price per liter by over ₱36 and gasoline by ₱26.
Suntay added they are only asking for a flag-down rate increase from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) instead of a fare hike.
“The increase in the price of fuel has negatively impacted the income of operators and drivers,” he told CNN Philippines. “We wanted a change in the flag-down rate so if the prices of go down, it would be easier to give it back without the need of calibrating the meters of the taxis.”
He explained that the current baseline rate is based at a time when fuel was priced at ₱42-₱45 per liter. Now fuel prices range between ₱82-₱85 per liter.
The LTFRB last approved a taxi fare hike in 2017 when the flag-down rate had a ₱10 increase.
