MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is looking into the request of taxi operators to increase the flag-down rate to P60 from the current P50.

Taxi operators first requested to raise flag-down rates to P60 on June 24, 2022, when the amount stood at P40.

LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the agency was studying how another increase might impact inflation in the country.

“If it triggers an inflation, then we might not grant the request because the impact of an inflation is nationwide. It will trigger an increase in prices, but if the effect is just minimal, we may grant the increase,” Guadiz said in mixed English and Filipino in a statement on Tuesday, November 26.

He added that a new LTFRB board will also study the request. “They still have to be briefed on the merits of the case before we come up with a decision,” Guadiz said, adding that the process may take two weeks.

The LTFRB granted the first P5 increase on September 16, 2022, bringing rates to P45.

Taxi operators filed a motion for reconsideration on October 7, 2022, asking the agency to raise flag-down rates by P10 to bring rates to P55.

The demand for a higher flag-down rate continued as prices of petroleum continue to rise. In 2023, the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association was still knocking on the doors of LTFRB to hike the flag-down rate to P60, filing a motion for reconsideration.

The LTFRB only granted a P5 increase on March 18, 2024, hiking the current rate at P50.

“There will still be another hearing on the additional request for P10 more,” Guadiz said on Wednesday. – Rappler.com