DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Cordillera Director Eduardo Natividad has assured that the Baguio City Council's request for a decrease in taxi fare will be relayed to the central office.
Natividad faced the City Council during Monday's regular session, May 7, upon the summons of Councilor Faustino Olowan over complaints on the taxi fare increase, as well as provisions of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) memorandum circular.
But Natividad said that all petitions, requests and sentiments of city stakeholders regarding the fare hike and LTFRB memo have been relayed and they will continue to communicate with the central office in behalf of the city.
The council said commuters have aired reactions to the added P13.50 per kilometer and P2 per minute to the base fare for taxi cabs pegged at P35, saying the increase is exorbitant.
Previously, the City Council backed the plea of transport groups on unreasonable LTFRB orders on the operation of off-road terminals for public transport groups with the consolidation of a sole garage and a fleet management system and the conversion to the modernization plan of the department that aims to phase out old jeepneys and acquire Euro 4 engine types.
The councilors asked Natividad to relay to the central office the possibility of reducing the increase and refining the provisions of the memorandum to fit the capabilities and capacity of the city transport and consumer sector.
The City Council has moved to invite the LTFRB to have one session in the city, as well as an invitation to attend the council session to shed light on the issue, while a resolution will also be made and forwarded to the central office on the sentiments of the city.
Natividad said when the taxi fare hike was discussed, no taxi association or individual driver protested the move. He assured though that the growing opposition today is being relayed.
He said Cagayan De Oro has also manifested a similar protest, but added it is only Baguio City that has the entire local government unit backing the transport groups' plea.
Reynardo Bacoco led the transport groups on May 7 at the City Council to get support.
There are approximately 3,143 units of taxi, 4,139 public utility jeeps, 56 units of registered school service providers, 124 public utility buses and 368 registered UV express units plying Baguio City affected by the LTFRB memorandum.
