Most of Manila’s cab drivers are notorious for being picky and/or rude, which is one of the reasons why ride sharing apps like Grab and Uber have flourished in the metropolis despite the butt-numbing traffic.
But with Uber currently suspended (unless they pay the PhP190-million fine), the ride sharing public is digitally fighting over Grab vehicles or settling for taxis.
But this social experiment presented by the show Get It Straight with Daniel Razon to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III shows why the public has had enough of these picky drivers (start at 38:00 mark).
Out of the 10 taxis flagged down by the incognito hosts who wanted to go from Quezon City to Las Piñas, none of them said yes despite the possible sanctions for refusing a ride.
They had multiple reasons: they’re just ending their shift, they’re going to eat, the destination is too far. Some even asked for the infamous “dagdag” or additional pay on top of the meter’s rate.
On these picky cabbies, LTFRB Chairman Delgra tells the public to automatically assume that the driver will take the ride and just be assertive of your rights as a passenger.
“Just get in the cab,” Delgra said in Filipino. “I have to make a shout out here… What’s happening is there has been a change of social behavior of people where it’s like when you’re waiting for a taxi, you’re anticipating that the driver will decline (when they find out about your destination).”
He continues, “When in fact, that taxi [is part of] public service. That means, those drivers are doing public service so they (the passengers) have to demand that service from them. As what the President (Rodrigo Duterte) has been saying, when there are those kinds of situations, assert your right. Before you complain to the LTFRB, assert your right as passengers.”
Razon points out that it is the drivers who ask for the destination even before the passenger gets in the vehicle. Delgra then begins to talk about the taxi drivers in Davao City, the hometown of President Duterte, lauded for their being dutiful and not picky when it comes to passengers.
Delgra also challenged the public on “enforcement” and be active on filing complaints against cab drivers who refuse rides or those who ask for additional charges. He also reminds the public to assert their rights in order to change the way these drivers conduct business.
“It simply requires that assertiveness on your part,” Delgra said.
Good luck on being assertive, Manila!
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