By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, on Tuesday (Nov. 25), said that the agency is still looking into the request of some taxi operators to increase the current flag-down rate to P60, in consideration of several factors including its impact on inflation.
Although there has been a recent increase in the flag-down rate which the LTFRB granted, there is also an ongoing thorough study on the request to further bring it to P60.
Previously, the taxi operators formally requested a fare hike on June 24, 2022, from P40.00 to P60.00. However, a few months later, the LTFRB only granted a P5.00 increase, putting the flag-down rate at P45.00.
On October 7, 2022, the taxi operators filed a motion for reconsideration asking for a P10.00 additional flag-down rate hike to make it P55.00. But on March 18, 2024, the LTFRB only granted a P5.00-increase, capping the flag-down rate at P50.00.
The LTFRB chief stressed the importance of determining the effect of the proposed P60 increase in flag-down rate on the economy, and is currently awaiting for such a report from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“Kasi NEDA will ask how the increase will affect the inflation. If it triggers an inflation, then we may not grant the request because the impact of an inflation is nationwide. It will trigger an increase in prices pero kung minimal lang ang effect, we may grant the increase,” Chairperson Guadiz explained.
“Hindi lang naman kasi ‘yung pamasahe ang pinag-uusapan diyan, eh. ‘Yung epekto niyan sa ekonomiya. Siyempre ‘yung mga sumasakay ng taxi, especially if there are commodities involved, ipapasa ‘yan sa consumer ‘yan. So yung effect — yung presyo ng bilihin natatamaan ‘yan,” he added further.
The LTFRB chief noted that it is similar to implementing fare increases, where they also must first look into the overall impact of the fare hike nationwide. However, he assured the taxi operators that the LTFRB is now working on it.
-avds