Some 200,000 motorcycle taxi drivers stand to benefit from the recently launched energy credit card to help drivers cope with fuel price hikes and stiff competition.
The new energy card for motorcycle taxis is sponsored by the Krung Thai Bank (KTB) and gives members a credit line of THB3,000 with a set repayment period of 45 days. Aside from the credit line, cardholders will be getting a three baht discount per liter of gasohol purchased at PTT stations. They are also entitled to a 15% discount on lubrication oils.
Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon said that more than 30,000 motorcycle taxi drivers have applied for the energy credit card since it was soft launched two weeks ago. He explained that the remaining 110,000 motorcycle taxi drivers have until October 15 to apply for their own energy credit cards.
Arak stressed that only motorcycle taxi drivers with valid licenses can apply for the card. At the same time, plans are already in place to extend the energy credit card program to other provinces.The government has also agreed to give taxi, tuk-tuk and van drivers until October to apply for their cards as well.
The energy credit card can go up to to THB5,000 a month for cardholders with good credit payment history.
Manoon Siriwan, an energy analyst, praised the energy card program. He said that it will increase the earnings of taxi drivers and minimize the cycle of borrowing from loan sharks.
Manoon stressed however, that the government should be very clear in educating the drivers that the credit card is not free, and that they must pay for their purchases within the prescribed time period, the Bangkok Post reported.
According to reports, there are about 200,000 motorcycle taxis, 100,000 taxis and more than 20,000 tuk tuks and vans plying the greater Bangkok route.
