DOTR chief eyes end to airport taxis, vows crackdown
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday said he has plans to remove special taxis at airports to prevent the recurring problems of overcharging and extortion faced by commuters and travelers and promised a crackdown on taxi operations in coming days.
“What we need is to follow what other countries are doing—regular taxis with uniform fares, a proper system at the airport where taxis line up, and an organized queue for our fellow Filipinos. Let’s use the meter,” Dizon said in an interview with reporters.
He explained that eliminating this special status for airport taxis would allow the use of a unified metering system for all taxis—a change Dizon hopes would prevent commuters and travelers from unfair charges.
Dizon said he would first consult with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), and San Miguel Corp.’s new Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Infra Corp.
60/40 extortion scheme
The investigation stemmed from the disclosure of taxi driver Felix Opina, who was charged by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for overcharging a passenger he picked up at Naia last week.
Opina complained that he was being forced to surrender 40 percent of his earnings to airport police under threat of arrest or being barred from entry.
On Thursday, Dizon ordered the relief of these five airport policemen, identified Pablito Seño, Roberto Abuel, Bernardo Agra, Alejandro Pineda Jr. and Rodolfo Piedad, all assigned at Naia Terminal 3.
“The President has repeatedly said that we should not make lives difficult for our countrymen. We will have them suspended, then [conduct] immediate proceedings for termination,” Dizon said.
Also on Friday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), state regulator of Naia and in charge of the APD, said the agency has begun its probe on the matter in response to Dizon’s directive.
Under Naia regulations, taxis are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport terminals. Opina said airport policemen allowed them to violate the regulation but in return, they should surrender 40-percent of their earnings, leading them to overcharge passengers at the airport to make up for the loss.
Exorbitant rates
“According to [Opina’s] story, the one running this racket is the airport police. They [cabbies] impose the exorbitant rates from which they [airport policemen] get the 40-percent. If you don’t cooperate and charge low and don’t remit what they’re asking form, either you will be apprehended or denied entry to the airport,” Dizon said.
The MIAA said it was also working with the LTO to verify reports of questionable ticket violations allegedly issued to taxi drivers at the airport.
