MANILA — Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said on Monday he might no longer allow white taxi queues at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) if he still receives reports about abusive and overcharging taxi drivers.
Monreal made rounds at the taxi queues in the different terminals of NAIA, following recent circulation of videos of abusive taxi drivers online.
According to MIAA, the latest video was uploaded last week by video blogger Haley Dasovich. The authority added that another video, which was uploaded in 2016, has been circulating online recently.
The MIAA GM emphasized that allowing white taxis in NAIA was due to the public’s clamor for more transportation options.
But he warned that if incidents of abuse and overcharging would continue, he would not hesitate to end the white taxis’ operation in NAIA as soon as possible. If this happens, white taxis would no longer be allowed to queue and pick up passengers from all the four terminals of NAIA.
In August 2017, MIAA and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) jointly announced that higher penalties would be imposed on abusive taxi drivers and “colorum” (without franchise) vehicle operators, at NAIA.
The move was due to the huge number of violators reported to MIAA then.
Monreal earlier described the PHP1,000 violation fee for vehicle operators as “too small”, since they could easily recover the amount from passengers.
As such, he said overcharging taxi drivers and other violators could expect PHP120,000-PHP200,000 fee for each violation they make.
Based on MIAA’s records, 86 white taxis have been impounded since August 2017. These taxis were brought to the temporary impounding site located in the old Nayong Pilipino compound.
Among the violations of the impounded taxi drivers were expired Certificate of Public Convenience and no Certificate of Public Convenience, MIAA cited.
Monreal appealed to the taxi drivers to help the government in improving the country’s image, noting that a foreigner’s impression of the Philippines starts from the airport where the visitor landed.
“Let us help in improving the country’s image. Please do not take advantage of our passengers,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Monreal reiterated that passengers should not hesitate in reporting abusive incidents.
Every taxi rider in NAIA is given a dispatch slip that contains numbers, where to report incidents of abuse or overcharging.
These numbers include that of the LTFRB, the Airport Police Department, and the MIAA text hotline. (PNA)
