Mindanaotoday.com | LTFRB-10 acts on complaints vs Oro taxis
By: Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Responding to complaints from commuters, the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board-10 (LTFRB-10) has conducted inspections to all of the taxis operating particularly in the Macabalan Port of Cagayan de Oro over the alleged overcharging of fare and contracting of passengers.
Apart from the reports and complaints received by the said agency, LTFRB-10 director Aminoden Guro confirmed that there was also an earlier resolution from the city council here urging his office to solve the said matter.
Upon the investigation, the LTFRB-10 found out that there are also taxi drivers who are not association members picking up passengers at the port’s taxi terminal.
“Naay usahay nga kung mahutdan na gali og taxi ug matimingan pud nga wala dinha ang in-charge sa ilang mini terminal, naay mga driver nga gapanimulos ug gatimingon nila nga wala pud gabantay sa ilaha,” Guro said in a phone interview on Sunday, Feb. 26.
(There are times that if taxis have run out and find that the in-charge of their mini terminal is not there, there are drivers who took the opportunity and they always make sure that no one is watching)
It can be recalled that Councilor James Judith II, during the regular session of the city council on Jan. 30, presented his special report contained the alleged over-charging of fare rates and contracting of passengers in Macabalan port.
Judith said that drivers in various public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Macabalan port refused passengers who are not in favor to their fare contract.
“Kung dili nato ni masumpo, makahatag baya ni og kadaot sa kadungganan ug imahen sa atong dakbayan (If we failed to solve this, it would bring damage to the reputation and image to our city),” Judith said.
“Maka-ingon ang atong mga bisita, asa naman ang giingon nga dakbayan sa bulawanong panaghigalaay (Our visitors would say, where is the so-called city of golden friendship),” he added.
Jeannette Solas, a resident here, said a taxi driver asked for a fare worth around P400-P600 just for Barangay Nazareth destination.
“Giingnan nakog metro ra boss dili musugot. Ingnan pa kag “wala kay masakyan diha dam nga musugot og metro. Sige na dam ulan bya mangabasa mo,” Solas said in her comment to the Facebook post of LTFRB-10 pertaining to their inspection on Macabalan port.
(I said just use the (taxi) meter, boss. He refused. And I was told “You cannot find a (public utility) vehicle there, Madam. Just go for it. It’s raining, you all get wet)
During the inspection on Feb. 24 at the Macabalan Port, Guro said the LTFRB-10 did not find any violations as the usual trait of the taxi drivers every time there’s an inspection has again undertaken, where they acted nice and kind.
Relative to this, Guro urged the riding public to get the necessary details if they noticed that a taxi did not used the taximeter or wanted a fare contract.
In a Facebook post from the LTFRB-10 Inspection and Monitoring Unit, the necessary details include plate number, operator’s name, trade name and the body number (RX number) must be included in the complaint.
Apart from the inspection in Macabalan port, the LTFRB-10 also conducted inspection to the taxi drivers in Cogon area here pertaining to the complaints they received over alleged refusal of passengers.
Once the taxi or any PUV under the jurisdiction of LTFRB commit the said violation, the first offense would cost P5,000; P10,000 for the second offense and P15,000 for the third offense.
After the third offense, if the same PUV unit has commit the same violation, there is a tendency that the franchise would be suspended for 30 days, Guro said.
The fines are not just limited to over-charging of fare rates and contracting of passengers but also include the refusal of passengers, arrogant and discourteous driver, among others.
Guro assured the consistent inspection in the entire region to combat various problems faced by the commuters. (MT)
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