Surprising new 50 peso NCR taxi flagdown rate August 2024
I thought it befitting for me to be the one to tell the public since the government won't anyway and had unilaterally decided to approve a petition behind closed doors without telling anyone.
Today I learned: Starting July 2024, taxi flagdown rates are now 50 pesos, and nobody told us about it.
The idea was I always take a cab with a flagdown rate starting at 40 pesos. I took a cab every day of the week and every ride was normal. Now I took a taxi and as soon as I pointed out the 50 peso fare. The taxi driver mentioned we can report him to the authorities and that he was open to criticism from us. We were skeptical but we kept the ride going.
We researched that there was no 50 peso flagdown announcement from any govt agency or the LTFRB, there was only a flagdown rate of 50 pesos valid in Cordillera region. We then got to our destination, paid the fare, and called the LTFRB 1342 hotline to report.
We were shocked to find out that indeed the flagdown rate was now 50 pesos and that the cabbie mentioned to us that they started recalibrating the meters starting July this year and that taxis are now in line to have their flagdown rates changed.
Lo and behold the LTFRB customer service person told us that indeed flagdown is now at 50 pesos, but we had to state that it was unfair for commuters who had no voice in the matter, and were most of all not informed, only shocked.
Every single peso that jeepney fares increase, the public is told from every media outlet, now that taxis are raising 10 pesos with its flagdown rate, not a single person nor public entity was informed.
The LTFRB hotline assistant I spoke to also said that there was no memorandum circular for this and that it was because they had approved a 2022 petition from ULC Ubercabs and similar organizations to raise the rates WAY BACK 2022 when fuel rates were higher, but it's 2024 now and it would only be fair for the media to report this.
I also asked as a follow-up question whether Student, PWD, and Senior Citizen discounts were still honored, the LTFRB said yes, but from my experience almost no cab honors this anymore. They mentioned that I can call the same hotline 1342 to report cab drivers not honoring the discount.
It's just sad to hear about this, although to be fair cabs are rather fairly priced in my personal opinion, but the public should be well-informed, and they should also honor discount cards as well. Hoping to get your thoughts on this.
