Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _2669

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

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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.

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

wo)
We,
DIOSDADO \L ARROYO. GLORIL “APAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Seconfi District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo,__ 2669

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
2013."

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.


C) 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 than 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,