Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5107

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
REQUIRING TAXI DRIVERS TO GIVE EXACT CHANGE TO THEIR
PASSENGERS, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFORE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Jurisprudence reveals that a contract of transport of passengers is quite
different from any other contractual relationship since it is imbued with public
interest. Moreover, it is a policy of the State to protect the interest of passengers,
promote their general welfare and establish the strictest standards of conduct for
the transportation industry.

Several laws and ordinances have been enacted to safeguard the safety
of the commuting public. Traffic enforcers have been deployed in strategic
locations to ensure the efficient flow of various forms of public transportation and
more importantly, the safety of our commuters.

In relations to this, it is the right of every person to choose whatever
means of public transportation he/she prefers. Most of our commuters would
choose to take the bus, jeepney, tricycle but for convenience sake, they have
also opted to take our railway system (LRT and MRT) to avoid the horrendous
traffic in most of our major thoroughfares. Still some for the sake of expediency,
have chosen to take the taxi because it saves on time and gets them to their
place of disembarkation much faster.


However, passengers are most often than not victims of abusive taxi
drivers. Rampant abusive practices by these taxi drivers include the collection of
fare in excess of what is due to them. In the event a passenger asks for his/her
exact change, the common answer is that they do not have enough coins or this
was their first trip. It is quite alarming to note and imagine if the 5,000 taxis more
or less in the Metro Manila area alone continue to engage in the same
unconscionable practice, where would this leave our commuting public

It is for these reasons that immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
requested.

‘a
DIOSDADO “APAGAL ARROYO GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

Second District, Camarines Sur ond District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5i 0

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
REQUIRING TAXI DRIVERS TO GIVE EXACT CHANGE TO THEIR
PASSENGERS, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFORE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Exact Fare Act
of 2011."

SECTION 2. Prohibition against Failing or Refusing to Give Exact Change.
~ It shall be unlawful for any taxi driver or operator to give insufficient change or
no change at all to commuters. It shall be the duty of the taxi drivers to give
exact change to the passenger without waiting for the latter to ask for the same.

SECTION 3. Procedure in Filing a Complaint. -

a) Not later than five (5) working days after a violation has been
committed, the passenger shall file a complaint in writing to the
Department of Transportation and Communications.

b) The Department shall, in not more than ten (10) working days after
receipt of the complaint, issue notice and conduct an investigation to the
concerned driver and operator.


¢) The investigation or hearing of any complaint under this Act shall be
summary in nature and without regard to technicalities of law or
procedure, provided due process is observed.

d) After a full investigation shall have been made by the Department, it
shall issue its decision and findings not later tan thirty (30) days from
receipt of the complaint.

SECTION 4. Penalties. — Any violation of this Act shall be punished as
follows:

The taxi driver shall be principally liable, however, in case of insolvency,
the operator's subsidiary liability will be enforced. For the first offense, a violator
shall be fined One Thousand pesos (P1,000.00); for the second offense, a
violator shall be tined Two Thousand pesos (P2,000.00); and for the third
offense, a violator shall be fined Five Thousand pesos (P5,000.00) and shall be
suspended from driving public utility vehicle for a period not less than one (1)
month but not more than six (6) months. Any subsequent violations by the driver
shall be penalized with a suspension for a period not less than one (1) year but
not more than two (2) years and for the operator, his license to operate shall be
suspended for the same period.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of
Transportation and Communications is hereby authorized to promulgate rules
and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If for any reason any section or
provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which
are not effected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any laws, decrees, or rules and
regulations which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act
are hereby amended or repealed.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,