Many people have wondered about the wording of the reminder from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the public to report abusive drivers, particularly those operating public utility vehicles (PUV).

You have probably seen it painted at the back or sides of PUVs and service vehicles: “May reklamo ka? Itawag o i-text sa (and the landline and mobile numbers are given).”

What it means in English, of course, is if you have a complaint, you should call or send a message to the numbers given.

But the tone of the reminder is more that of a bully threatening somebody and discouraging him/her from actually complaining or reporting a misdeed.

The message is actually turning off more people than encouraging them to report offenses.

Anyway, despite the unencouraging drive of the message, I tried to report a taxi driver who refused to take me from Roxas Boulevard in Manila to Chino Roces in Makati because “traffic is bad.”

Unless he plans to drive a taxi in another planet, there’s really no other place in Metro Manila where traffic is not bad.

Anyway, I thought it would be a good chance to see what would happen if somebody actually sent a complaint to the LTFRB numbers.

Well, I am still waiting even for just a line that says the government agency has received my complaint.

Welcome reminder

Speaking of reminders, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a dispatcher of the MGE taxi company reminding passengers to check their belongings before getting off the cab to make sure they do not leave anything behind.

She also reminded passengers to take note of the cab’s body number and/or plate number, so it would be easy for the company to investigate any complaints.

The messages were given in between her requests over the two-way radio for available cabs to pick up passengers who had phoned in their requests.

She likewise reminded drivers to make sure, if they were taking a break, to park in safe places so they and their vehicles would not be at risk.

I usually call another big taxi company when I need a cab to bring me to an area I am not familiar with or if I have to leave the house at a particular time.

After hearing the MGE dispatcher being solicitous of both passenger and driver, I will now put the company at the top of my list.

Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail [email protected]