HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
DATE: = JUN 2016

Republic of the Philippihes T_T:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES py, rie i
1:

Quezon City, Metro Manjla

REGISTRATION UNIT

SEVENTEENTH CONGRHS8i 1s an INDEX SERVICE

First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 296

Introduced by Representatives
Horacio P. Suansing, Jr. and Estrellita B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public transportation is the preferred mode of transportation for most
Filipinos. It is cheap, fast and more practical, compared against the cost of
maintaining a private vehicle and paying for fuel. Among the public
transportations available, the taxi cab is a fast and convenient way of
travelling, albeit the most expensive one. Taxis are mostly in demand during
holiday season, rainy season, and during late nights wherein other modes of
public transportation are not available and passenger safety is a primary

concern.

This measure aims to establish transportation service standards for taxi
passengers to ensure their safe travel through the following key provisions: (a)
providing for the rights of taxi passengers, (b) requiring the plate number of the
taxi and emergency numbers by the Philippine National Police and other
concerned agencies to be prominently displayed inside the taxi, (c) requiring
the taxi to have a duly calibrated and sealed fare meter placed where the
passenger could easily see it, (d) requiring the display of the current Motor
Vehicle Inspection Report and posting of a sticker marked “LPG” or “CNG” in
clearly visible locations of taxis powered by liquefied petroleum gas or
compressed natural gas; (e) requiring taxis to be equipped with a functioning
automatic door lock system which the passenger can open at any time without


interference from the driver; (f) mandating the prominent display inside the taxi
of the rights, remedies and procedures available to passengers; (g) requiring the
LTFRB to conduct and resolve passenger complaints not later that seven (7)
working days after mediation or adjudication; (h) providing for separate and
joint penalties for violations committed by operators and taxi drivers and
requires that in all cases, the erring operator or driver, shall undergo education
seminars; (i) establishing a special fund for education seminars and public
information campaigns from the fines collected from the offending parties, and
() requiring the LTFRB and other concerned government agencies, local
government units, and private agencies and organizations concerned to

conduct a nationwide information, education and communication campaign.

This measure was filed in the 16% Congress as House Bill No. 6474 and,
as recorded under Committee Report No. 1043, has been submitted and
recommended for approval by the Committee on Transportation. Thus, in view
of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON, none 7 cuansino, JR.
aa Se 24 District, Sultan Kudarat

HON?

RELLITA B. SUANSING
1" District, Nueva Ecija


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No 296

Introduced by Representatives
Horacio P. Suansing, Jr. and Estrellita B. Suansing

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. ~ For purposes of this Act, the term:

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; and

©) 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.


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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;

c) be served by a driver who is not under the influence of alcohol
or dangerous drugs;

a) 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;

) 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;

f) 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;

g) 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;


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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;

ky) travel with animal assistant or portable mobility aid, if the
passenger is with disabil

1) refuse multiple hiring;

m)a quiet or silent atmosphere throughout the trip upon request;

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

0) a substitute 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 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


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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

3. 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 shall
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


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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.

See. 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, 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.

See. 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,