LTO starts drive vs abusive taxi drivers in NCR

With the Christmas shopping season due to start peaking soon, transportation authorities in Metro Manila have started a drive to thwart "snobbish" and abusive taxi drivers. The Land Transportation Office's Metro Manila unit will hold random inspections of major thoroughfares, malls and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to flush out these cabbies, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported. LTO Metro Manila chief Teofilo Guadiz said they will draw up a black list of taxi drivers who refuse to convey passengers or force their passengers to agree to the "kontrata" system where passengers pay a fixed — and often excessively high — fare. Guadiz, a lawyer, said they will then work with management of major malls in Metro Manila to bar these blacklisted taxis from entering their premises. Also, he said taxi drivers caught refusing passengers or forcing them to the "kontrata" system face a P1,500 fine and a suspension of their licenses. The LTO advised passengers who are "rejected" by these taxi drivers to call the LTO hotline at 4262521, and include in their report the taxi name and plate number. Guadiz said hearings will be held to determine if sanctions will be imposed on the erring cabbies. — RSJ, GMA News