RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines pare 3.0 Jit
HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT! Ss Mocs
Quezon City mur SOP
BY: |
SEVENTEENTH CONG] t
First Regular Session RERISTRATION Las

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

(AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE TAXI PASSENGERS’ RIGHTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘An efficient, safe and world-class public transportation is an essential element
in the country’s development. It remains the preferred mode of most Filipinos
especially in the face of the increasing price of fuel made private transportation less
practical. Public transportation is also important in boosting our tourism industry as
it allows tourists to travel around the country.

Taxi is considered as one of the primary means of public transportation in
reaching a destination promptly and safely. Regrettably, many of the taxi drivers and
operators abuse the reliance of the riding public, especially the tourists. Many taxi
drivers and operators devise schemes and some of them resort to criminal activities
to increase their earnings.

This measure seeks to acknowledge the rights of taxi passengers and penalizes
both the taxi driver and the operator who violates these rights. Such initiative is
essential to protect our commuting public and tourists from the predatory practices
of some drivers and operators of taxi cabs and raise the standards of public
transportation service.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

(pr
L'sfin
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
‘4th District, Quezon

(7 HOUSE °F REPRESENTATIVES

106 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 106

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE TAXI PASSENGERS’ RIGHTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Bill of Rights of
‘Taxi Passengers”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It shall be the policy of the State to establish a
world-class public transportation system. To this end, the State shall establish
transportation service standards that shall address the basic rights of public
transport passengers including taxi passengers.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a) Taxi refers to a public utility vehicle as defined and duly franchised by
the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), offering
transportation services to the public for a fee on an exclusive basis;

b) Multiple hiring refers to the act of a driver in accepting more than one
client in a single journey, whether or not the clients come from the same point of
origin;

©) Seminar refers to an activity prescribed by the LTFRB or Land
Transportation Office (LTO) for erring drivers and operators as a requirement for
reinstatement of license or continued operation of franchise.

SEC. 4. Standards of Service. — Only a duly licensed professional driver can
be authorized to drive a taxicab. All vehicles licensed and authorized to be operated
as taxicabs shall be clean, safe, smoke-free, and in good condition.

SEC. 5. Rights of Taxi Passengers. — Taxi passengers shall have the right to:

a) be served by a taxi driver who is properly dressed. Taxi companies
should ensure that their taxi drivers wear the prescribed uniform and company
identification card (ID) at all times while on duty. In addition, the LTFRB shall issue
an official ID to all taxi drivers containing the driver’s name and picture and the taxi


operator's information and contact numbers. The prescribed ID cards must be
prominently displayed inside the taxi within the view of the passenger;

b) be served by a courteous driver who shall provide assistance, if
requested;

©) _ be served by a driver who is not under the influence of aleohol or
dangerous drugs;

4) be informed of the plate number of the taxi and emergency numbers for
assistance by the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies by the
prominent display of these information on the side door or in any other conspicuous
place within the taxi;

e) be picked up and transported to their stated destination, regardless of
the length of the journey or traffic condition, by any available on duty taxi driver,
subject to applicable traffic regulations;

{) direct the route, or expect the most economical route, except where
such route will endanger the lives of the occupants or will cause damage to the taxi;

8) view the taxi fare meter that shall be duly calibrated and sealed by the
proper authorities;

h) _ pay the rate exactly as posted in the meter, subject to other government
sanctioned fees;

i be given the exact amount of change;

j) be issued a printed official receipt in accordance with the requirement
of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations issued by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue;

kb travel with an animal assistant or portable mobility aid, if the
passenger is with disability;

a) refuse multiple hiring;
m) —aquiet or silent atmosphere throughout the trip upon request;

n) decide on the orientation of air conditioning and lighting systems
inside the taxi; and

0) — asubstitute taxi or to be assisted to procure one in case of mechanical
or engine trouble or other similar instances that hinder the continuation of carriage.

In such case, the passenger shall only pay the amount appearing in the meter
less the flag-down fee.

SEC. 6. Taxi Equipped with a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed
Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel System. — A taxi equipped with a liquefied petroleum gas or


compressed natural gas fuel system must display a current Motor Vehicle Inspection
Report (MVIR) issued by the LTO. Operators of taxis running on CNG or LPG must
maintain the safe condition of every unit of taxi through regular maintenance. A
sticker marked “LPG” or “CNG” issued by the LTFRB must be posted to every taxi
equipped with an LPG or CNG fuel system, positioned in a clearly visible location as
close as practicable to the front and rear registration plates.

SEC. 7. Door Locks. — Every taxi operator shall ensure that each taxi unit it
operates is equipped with a functioning automatic door lock system. The central lock
system of every taxi must be disabled to allow the passenger to open the doors at any
time without interference from the driver, with the exception of the rear left door of
the taxi which the driver may set on child- lock orientation. The operation of a taxi
without the required lock system as prescribed in this Section shall constitute a
violation and shall be punishable in accordance with Sec. 10 of this Act.

SEC. 8. Taxi Passengers’ Rights Notification. — The taxi passengers’ rights as
enumerated in Section 5 of this Act, as well as the remedies and procedures available
to the passenger as promulgated by the LTFRB shall be prominently displayed inside
the taxi.

SEC. 9. Filing of Complaint for Violation of Rights. — A taxi passenger whose
rights have been violated, may file a complaint against the driver or operator of the
taxi with the LTFRB which shall conduct the investigation and resolve the complaint
not later than seven (7) working days after mediation, or seven (7) working days after
adjudication, under such rules and regulations as it may provide.

The complaint instituted under the provisions of this Act shall not bar the
filing of a civil or criminal complaint for violation of any law, rule or regulation
resulting from the same act or omission, whenever applicable.

SEC. 10. Penalties and Fines. — In addition to the penalties imposed by any
applicable law, rule or regulation, the violation of any of the provisions of this Act,
shall be punishable as follows:

a) a taxi driver who violates the provisions of this Act shall be liable and
penalized as follows:

1 First Offense - A fine of One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) and
suspension of driver's license for a period of seven (7) calendar days;

2. Second Offense — A fine of Three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) and
suspension of driver's license for a period of six (6) months; and

. ‘Third and Succeeding Offense - A fine of Five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00) and suspension of driver's license for a period of one (1) year.

b) the operator who violates the applicable provisions of this Act shalll pay the
same amount of fines as prescribed in the foregoing paragraph.

The liability of the operator with respect to the fine herein imposed in the case
of an insolvent taxi driver shall be subsidiary.


©) for violation of the other provisions of this Act, a fine ranging from One
thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) shall be imposed
for every violation at the discretion of the LTFRB.

In all cases, the erring driver or operator shall undergo an education seminar
provided under this Act. The attendance by the concerned drivers and operators in
such seminars shall be mandatory, failure of which shall be a ground for non-
reinstatement of the driver's license of the driver or suspension of the franchise of
the operator, as the case may be.

SEC. 11. Special Fund for Education Seminars and Public Information
Campaign. ~ The fines paid by and collected from the offending parties for violations
of this Act shall accrue to a special fund to be held by the LTFRB for the benefit of
taxi drivers and operators and shall be disbursed exclusively for the seminars of
erring drivers and operators as defined under Section 3 of this Act.

SEC. 12. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. - The LTFRB, in
coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and private agencies and
organizations concerned, shall undertake a nationwide information, education, and
communication campaign for the attainment of the objectives of this Act. It shall
likewise coordinate with the local government units for the purpose of seeking the
assistance of citizens groups and community organizations for the promotion of
public safety awareness in observance of this Act.

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the LTFRB, in consultation with the LTO, shall promulgate
the necessary implementing rules and regulations to effectively carry out the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held
unconstitutional, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, issuances, executive orders
letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or any part
thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,