[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Crooked cabbies bad for city’s tourism – Jed ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO City – Unscrupulous practices of taxi drivers could turn off tourists, warned Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Two of these practices were the drivers’ refusal to use the taxi meter and their being selective in taking passengers in, said the mayor.
Mabilog recently summoned regional officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office, officials of the City Tourism and Development Office and taxi operators.
“Complaints reached my office that some taxi drivers were arbitrarily setting fares and refusing to convey passengers if they don’t agree with the amount,” said Mabilog.
Some drivers also do not issue taxi receipts, he added.
These practices must stop, he stressed, warning that the tourism industry may be adversely affected.
“I hope our taxi drivers will cooperate with the city government. We want more tourists.
Acting on Mabilog’s concern, the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay (ATOP) summoned members to a meeting.
“We emphasized to the taxi operators that we must not turn down passengers. Such refusal is a violation of our franchises and there’s a penalty for this,” said ATOP president Perfecto Yap.
Operators and drivers were also reminded to always use taxi meters, he added.
It was only four months ago when LTFRB warned taxi drivers and taxi operators their licenses and franchises could be cancelled for overcharging passengers or refusing to transport them.
The Board urge the public to send their complaints with details (location of incident, nature of complaint, picture etc.) to Facebook (LTFRB Citizen Enforce page), Twitter (@LTFRB) and Viber (LTFRB channel), and its offices nationwide./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
