Vlogger Posts Encounter with Unscrupulous Taxi Driver; NAIA Chief Issues Warning

Filipino-American vlogger Haley Dasovich posted her encounter with the driver of a taxi she hailed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

According to the video, Dasovich noticed that the meter was not yet turned on even as the trip had already been underway.  After calling the attention of the driver, the driver instead demanded a fixed fare of ₱500 (US$9.75; £6.94; €7.85) citing that the metered price is not enough for them to live on.   When Dasovich initially refused, the driver offered to transfer her to another driver.  The driver also reasoned that unlike other services such as Grab or Uber, regular taxi drivers have to wait for passengers which deprives them of income.  

In addition, the driver also offered to teach Dasovich some Tagalog at a rate of US$1 per word.  



The video got the attention of NAIA General Manager Ed Monreal.  He angrily confronted the driver at his office regarding the incident.  In the course of that, Monreal also found out that the driver did it again to another passenger just the day before.  In that second incident, the driver forced his passenger to alight at NAIA Terminal 2 after refusing the passenger's request to use the meter.    

Monreal also called for the revocation of the erring driver's licence.  The driver is also barred from operating in the NAIA premises and his vehicle was impounded.  Monreal also called for drivers with similar pending cases to be barred from serving passengers at NAIA.  Moreover, he is also considering the banning of normal white city cabs from serving the NAIA premises altogether.  

NAIA officials recommend that passengers use the yellow airport cabs instead of the normal white cabs when commuting between the airport and the city.  However, most passengers prefer to use the white cabs as they are normally more affordable.  A yellow cab has a flag down rate of ₱70 (approximately US$1.40, £1, €1.15) and an additional ₱4 for every 300 metres.  Meanwhile the white cab's flag down rate stands at ₱40 (approximately US$0.80, £0.57, €0.65).  

For her part Dasovich recommends that passengers use apps such as Uber or Grab instead of hailing regular taxis directly from the street.  Currently, these services are permitted to pick passengers up from the NAIA premises.

Passengers can also opt to take an UBE Express shuttle bus, especially if travelling between the airport and one of the major hotels in the Manila, Pasay, or Makati area.  The service accepts online bookings.  

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