LTFRB starts taxi meter-calibration to ensure fare cut

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE Land Transportation Franchising and  Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday started the first day of the calibration of taxi meters so as to ensure that the flagdown rates would be reduced by P10 or from  P40 to P30.

Mandangan Darimbang, LTFRB director for Region 10, said all taxis with license plates ending in “492” are the first to undergo meter calibration.

From May 1 to May 31, meters of taxis with license plates ending in “570” would be calibrated. Taxis with plates ending in “368” would undergo meter calibration from June 1 to June 30, Darimbang said.

Darimbang warned that owners of taxis with uncalibrated meters would face problems with their registration and confirmation papers.

“Kon ang mga taxi operator  dili magpa-calibrate  sa ilang  meter,  dili maheristo sa Land Transportation Office ang ilang taxi kay dili man namo  i-confirm sa LTFRB ang  ilang mga franchise,” Darimbang said.

The Board earlier implemented a P10eduction in taxi flagdown rates on orders of LTFRB chairman Winston Gines.

But last month, the  Cagayan de Oro Federation of Taxi  Drivers’ Association (Cafetada) filed a petition to oppose the permanent reduction in the taxi fare.

Darimbang said the LTFRB regional office cannot do anything but implement Gines’s order unless the LTFRB central office rules in favor of the petition of Cafetada.