By LITO RULONA Correspondent THE director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in northern Mindanao yesterday said he was expecting a P10-provisional decrease in the taxi flagdown rate here. And if the LTFRB central office gives the greenlight, the taxi fare would further decrease by 50 centavos for every succeeding 300 meters or from P3.50 to P3, said the Mandangan Darimbang, the Board’s regional director here. Darimbang said the LTFRB regional office would implement the fare reduction as soon as the LTFRB central office approves the petition filed by organized taxi drivers and operators here. If approved the flagdown rate would be set at P30 from the current P40. Darimbang said the likely taxi fare reduction would be in response to the prevailing low prices of oil in the world market. “Maayo kini nga initiative sa atong mga taxi drivers and operators tungod kay barato naman gyud ang gasoline and diesel,” he said. Cagayan de Oro Federation of Taxi Drivers Association (Cafitada) president Bernie Jamaca filed the petition to lower the taxi fare here on behalf of his organization. Darimbang said Jamaca’s group also asked for a calibration of all taxi meters in the city if the petition is granted. “Sa ingon ani nga pamaagi with their voluntary petition filed before the regional office, the central office now has a basis to implement a fare reduction not only in the city and Mindanao but also in the entire country,” Darimbang said. He said he was also expecting public bus and jeepney fares in the region to be reduced.