A consumer group in Panay has expressed their opposition towards the proposed petition to double charge out-of-town trips, saying that it will only serve the interest of taxi operators.

Two days prior to the scheduled public hearing, Panay Consumer Alliance (PCA) filed their petition yesterday at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to deny the revived proposal filed by the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay Inc. (Atopi) to double charges for trips outside Iloilo City.

LTFRB has scheduled the public hearing on May 30 to get public perception on the issue.

The group said that, contrary to the rationale of the proposal which is to cover up the fuel cost for out-of-town trips, there is no point in passing the proposal since oil price rate is already going down in the world market, which is reflected in the lowering of fare rates to P7.50 in the city.

Engr. Perfecto Yap, Atopi president earlier said that aside from fuel prices, high cost of spare parts is also a burden for taxi drivers which pushed them to pursue the petition.

However, in a petition filed before the LTFRB, PCA claimed that the increase or double charging is "anti-consumer, anti-commuter and anti-taxi drivers."

"Increasing the fare of taxi drivers will decrease the number of passengers that patronize taxicabs. This will result to reduced passengers of taxicabs and naturally, less income for drivers," the group said on their petition.

They also added that the petition was just a cover up so cab operators can increase their daily boundary rates.

"The proposal will not benefit the drivers but will just push commuters away," according to Reylan Vergara, one of the conveners of PCA.

PCA also said that the usual practice wherein taxi drivers negotiate with passengers for a specified rate will also help to persuade passengers.

Aside from the local petition, Atopi has also joined the national petition pushing for a P10-increase on P40 flag down rates.*