Transportation Chief Proposes Removing Special Taxis at Airports
MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced plans to propose the removal of special taxis at airports to stop overcharging and extortion. He emphasized that this change aims to protect commuters from unfair taxi fares.
Dizon’s statement came shortly after five airport police officers were relieved from duty for allegedly extorting taxi drivers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “That’s the solution I’ll be proposing to all agencies; there should no longer be special taxis exclusively for the airport,” he said during an interview.
Unified Metering System to Prevent Exploitation
Instead of special airport taxis, Dizon suggested adopting a system similar to those in other countries. This would involve regular taxis operating with uniform fares, proper queuing systems, and strictly using meters to calculate fares. “Let’s use the meter,” he urged, highlighting the need for transparency and fairness.
He explained that removing the distinction for airport taxis would lead to a unified metering system, reducing opportunities for exploitation. “This would also eliminate opportunities for exploitation,” especially those involving rogue government employees, Dizon added.
Coordination with Agencies and Upcoming Crackdowns
When asked about the timeline for implementation, Dizon said he first needs to consult with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Manila International Airport Authority, and San Miguel Corporation’s Naia Infra Corp. He also announced plans to launch a crackdown on illegal taxi operations at airports in the coming days.
The move follows complaints from taxi drivers forced to hand over 40 percent of their earnings to airport police under threats of arrest or being barred from entry. This led to the dismissal of the five airport officers involved in the extortion case.
Additional Measures to Protect Passengers
Just days earlier, Dizon also suspended a taxi driver’s license for charging a passenger P1,200 for a trip from NAIA Terminal 3 to Terminal 2. These steps underline the government’s commitment to protect commuters and ensure fair taxi services.
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