SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG -\ PS:Ol 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1206 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Public transportation is an essential element in the development of our country. Public 
transportation is still the preferred mode of most of our countrymen especially recently when the 
increasing price of fuel made private transportation less practical. It is also essential to our 
tourism industry since it allows the tourists to travel around the country. 
Regrettably, many of the taxi drivers and operators abuse the reliance of our countrymen 
and tourist. Many drivers and operators devise schemes to increase their earnings sacrificing 
goodwill and quality of service along the way. We need to enact a law to protect our commuting 
public, citizens and tourists alike from predatory practices of some taxi drivers and operators and 
raise the service standards. By doing so, we would establish better public perception to the taxi 
service industry in general. 
This bill seeks to acknowledge the rights of taxi passengers and penalizes both driver and 
the operator of the taxi cab who violates these rights. ' 
Lw,- 4~ . .4~ A,~ 
I)IiIY . MIRIAM DEF~SOR S'ANTI!{JO 
• This bill was originally filed in the FOUlieenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENY206 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
2 
ESTABLISHING THE RIGHTS OF TAXI PASSENGERS 
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'13 
~UG -1 P5:(}1 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It shall be the policy of the State to establish a 
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world class public transportation system. To this end, the State shall establish transportation 
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service standards that shall address the basic rights of the passengers as maybe provided by law. 
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SECTION 3. Rights of Taxi Passengers - Taxi Passengers shall have the right to: 
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A. Be picked up and transported to their stated destination by any available on duty taxi 
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driver, subject to applicable traffic regulations; 
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B. A fare meter duly calibrated and sealed by proper authorities; 
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C. A properly dressed and courteous driver who provides assistance, if requested; 
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D. Travel with an assistance dog or portable mobility aid; 
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E. A taxi that is clean, smoke free, and in good repair; 
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F. Direct the route, or expect the most economical route; 
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G. See the taxi meter; 
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H. Refuse multiple hiring; 
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I. Have the air conditioning on or off; 


J. See the driver's identification card, which shall state clearly the driver's name and the 
2 
taxi operator's name, place of business, and contract numbers, and shall contain a 
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picture of the driver. Copies of such identification card shall be displayed 
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prominently inside the taxi; 
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K. See the plate number of the taxi and emergency numbers for assistance by the 
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Philippine National Police prominently displayed on the side doors and other 
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conspicuous places within the taxi; 
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1. A quiet atmosphere, upon request; 
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M. Pay the rate exactly as posted in the meter, subject to other government sanctioned 
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fees; and 
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N. A detailed receipt. 
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SECTION 4. 
Taxi Passengers' Rights Notification. - The taxi passengers' rights as 
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enumerated in Section 3 shall be prominently displayed in the taxi cab. Such notification shall 
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also contain a brief description of the procedure on how to file a complaint for violation of any of 
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the rights enumerated as well as the necessary contact information provided by the Land 
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Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to handle such complaints. 
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SECTION 5. Period of Implementation. -
The LTFRB shall be the agency primarily 
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responsible in the enforcement and implementation of this Act. Within sixty (60) days from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the LTFRB shall formulate and issue the necessary implementing rules 
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and regulations and shall mobilize available resources to assure the effective implementation of 
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this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Penalties and Fines. -
In the enforcement of this Act, the L TFRB shall 
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impose fines against drivers and operators, solidarily, for violation of this Act. 
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The following shall be the basis in defining the fine and penalty provisions of the 
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implementing rules and regulations to be promulgated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, provided 
2 


that six (6) months grace period shall be allowed to lapse to conduct a nationwide information 
2 
campaign. 
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A. For failure to observe any of the rights enumerated in Section 3, a minimum fine of 
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Five hundred pesos (Il500) but not to exceed Two thousand pesos (P,2,OOO) for the 
5 
first violation; a minimmn fine of One thousand pesos (P,I,OOO) but not to exceed 
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Five thousand pesos (P,S,OOO) for the second violation; and a minimum fine of Three 
7 
thousand pesos (P,3,OOO) but not to exceed Ten thousand pesos (PlO,OOO) and 
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suspension of driver's license andlor the Certificate of Public Convenience for a 
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period of one (I) week for the third and succeeding violations; 
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B. For non-compliance on the requirement under Section 4, a minimum fine of One 
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thousand (P,I,OOO) but not to exceed Five thousand pesos (P,3,OOO) for every violation. 
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SECTION 7. Nationwide Public Information Campaign.-
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A. The LTFRB, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the 
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Department of Education, and private agencies and organizations, shall undertake a 
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nationwide information, education, and commlmication (lEC) campaign for the 
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attainment of the objectives ofthis Act. 
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B. The L TFRB, in coordination with the local government units, shall likewise utilize 
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the services of citizen groups and community organizations for the promotion of 
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public safety awareness in observance ofthis Act. 
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C. The fines that will be collected for the enforcement of this Act shall be used 
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exclusively for the implementation of the provisions of this Act, including the 
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necessary information campaigns. 
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SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
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this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the L TFRB under the current General 
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Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its full implementation shall 
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be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and separate item. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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