Regular taxis could soon be allowed to pick up airport passengers, says chief

This is welcome news to those who have waited for hours for a cab at the airport.

“Ed Monreal, the incoming general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), is currently mulling the idea of allowing regular white taxis, or those not under the supervision of the MIAA, to pick up arriving passengers from the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),” reports Itchie Cabayan on Journal Online.

Monreal talked about his plan during an informal meeting with reporters. He explained that he wants “to give the passengers the wide option and at the same time address the insufficiency of cabs to accommodate and ferry the number of passengers that need them.”                                                     

If plans push through, Monreal said a lane will be designated for regular white taxis in the four NAIA terminals.

“But, unlike airport service vehicles, these regular cabs will not be made to undergo the same accreditation process to which the MIAA has been subjecting all public utility vehicles at the airport, provided they will not take advantage of their passengers by contracting instead of using the meter,” the report noted.

The airport authorities would also be implementing mechanism to ensure the safety and protection of passengers. The report pointed out: “These include the issuance to the passenger concerned of a taxi slip bearing the name of the driver, taxi plate number, name of the operator and the hotline number of the MIAA, a second copy of which will be kept by the dispatcher at the NAIA for tracing purposes.”