Implementation of P10 add-on taxi rate continues
By Maricar M. Calubiran
The collection of P10 add-on rate for taxis will continue pending the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) national office.
LTFRB regional director Porfirio Clavel said they have yet to receive official orders from their head office on the removal of the P10 add-on rate on taxis. The board, being the policy making body has the sole authority to withdraw the implementation of the add-on rate.
Clavel said the board is currently reviewing calls for the removal of the P10 add-on rate. The board is in consultation with the stakeholders particularly the taxi operators. The LTFRB board is headed by its chair Thomas Lantion and two other members of the board.
In the region, there is no group that called for the removal of the P10 add-on rate. Normally, the petition serves as basis for the board to act on the "upward and downward" fare rates, said Clavel.
The issue on the removal of the P10 add-on rate is being raised by the riding public after the LTFRB approved the provisional fare rollbacks on public utility jeepneys and buses. The fare roll back came following the recent fuel price rollbacks caused by the lowering of world prices of oil.
The regional director could not say yet if the oil price rollback from oil firms is substantial to effect the P10 add-on rate for taxis. He said he is not conversant on the percentage of decrease in fuel products.
The P10 add-on rate was imposed in July after the series of oil price increases.