WITH all the horror stories about rogue taxi drivers who rob, rape, even murder unsuspecting passengers, is the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) monitoring compliance with its identification card requirement?

 

The ningas cogon mentality seems at play here again. Many drivers displayed their new IDs prominently only for a month or so.

 

Now you have to ask before some of them will show their IDs. Worse, a few sounded outright belligerent when asked for the IDs.

 

The Inquirer’s office security note down not just the plate number of a taxi, but also its driver’s name when they hail a cab for an employee as a precaution since a number of Inquirer staff had been held up in cabs.

 

Most cab drivers do not make a fuss when asked for their ID, but there are some who angrily tell the security people that the cab’s name and plate number should suffice.

 

I have asked the security people not to get me a cab whose driver doesn’t display his ID or refuses to show it—even if it’s difficult to get a cab during rush hour.

 

Passenger abuse

 

Speaking of taxis, Poch Ceballos, head of Grab’s taxi division, is asking the company’s clients to be a little more considerate when they book their cabs.

 

Ceballos says one reason why Grab drivers are sometimes reluctant to accept bookings is because of “passenger abuse.” He says some passengers cancel bookings even when a Grab cab is on its way. Others do not even bother to cancel.

 

“This ruins the platform for everyone, including drivers and passengers who use the app responsibly,” Ceballos says. For Grab drivers, he says, no-show passengers are a great inconvenience.

 

A driver may have to refuse several passengers along the way and spends several minutes without income to pick up a Grab client. But the driver hopes the delayed gratification will mean a little extra “because Grab passengers are generally nicer and he [the driver] gets an extra P30 net,”  Ceballos says.

 

But when a passenger cancels the booking, the driver will have to spend more time without income as he tries to look for other passengers. Worse is if the client forgets to cancel. The driver waits fruitlessly when he should be looking for passengers.

 

The “loss of income” may make the driver very unhappy with Grab and its passengers, and he may ignore Grab bookings to avoid the risk of another cancellation.

 

“The bottom line is, more responsible passengers go a long way in creating a healthy, functioning ecosystem where both parties are happy,” Ceballos says.

 

Bus service

 

Robinsons Malls, with HM Transport, is providing its customers and the riding public point-to-point bus service.

 

The Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Service, which aims to provide the riding public a more relaxed commuting experience and shorter travel time, is part of the Department of Transportation and Communications program to help alleviate traffic congestion on Edsa and make the daily commute more convenient for people.

 

P2P buses will have modern features like global positioning system devices, on-board closed-circuit television cameras, automatic fare collection system and free WiFi.

 

They will also use clean alternative fuels and will be compliant with Euro IV emissions standards. Buses will be PWD-friendly with low entry, space for passengers with wheelchair and foldable or retractable ramp for easy access.

 

 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].