Cabbies dismayed by reduced flagdown rate

By Cheneen R. Capon
Commuters may be happy about the reduction of the taxi flagdown rate from P40 to P30 to be implemented nationwide on Monday, but many taxi drivers have expressed dismay over it.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had approved the provisional flagdown fare reduction last Friday because of the prevailing low oil price in the world market.
But 31-year-old Alvin Remonde, who has been driving a taxi for three years, told Edge Davao that the reduction in the flagdown rate will reduce the amount of money he earns for his family.
“Pait kay maapektuhan ang kita kada adlaw labi na karon na mingaw kayo (It will be difficult because my earnings will be affected especially on low days),” he said.
Remonde said he takes in an average of P2,000 but he takes home only P700 because P1,200 goes to the rental of the unit, which he drives only every other day.
“Mahulog na lang na P350 per day. Magkasya lang gani na sa amoa kay wala pang anak (It comes down to P350 per day. Good thing it’s enough for me and my wife because we don’t have children yet),” he added.
He also doubts if the flagdown rate reduction will mean more people will take the taxi because of the competition from Grab Taxi which currently offers a 50 percent discount.
Another taxi driver, Winston Remorta, said the decrease would be “OK” if there would be further drops in oil prices.
The 24-year-old Remorta said he has to pay P49 per liter of a premium gasoline.
“Mahal pa kaayo ang tubil unya kung ibaba pa (flag down fare) wala nay maamoa (Gas is still expensive, do if they reduce the flagdown rate nothing will be left for us),” Remorta said.
The flagdown reduction takes effect on Monday, March 9. Taxi operators and drivers violating the order will be penalized under the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 (Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws, Rules and Regulations governing Land Transportation).