The Committee on Transportation and Communication is set to review the reports that some of the taxi drivers allegedly refused to give discounts to senior citizens.
The City Council passed on first reading last May 29 the complaint of Virginia U. Macapindig, a senior citizen.
“There’s this incident when I paid the taxi I asked the driver for a discount, I even showed by identification attesting that I’m a senior citizen, but the driver refused,” said Macapindig, adding that refusal of the fare discount is rampant in the city based on the number of times she was refused the privilege.
Macapindig also believes that students and persons with disabilities (PWD) were also denied of the 20% fare discounts.
The 20% fare discount for seniors is mandated under RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.
The Republic Act 9442 or the amended Magna Carta for Persons with Disability grants a 20% discount for PWDs while the fare discount for students is mandated under LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular 2011-004.
Apart from the taxis, the discount also covers jeepneys, buses, AUVs or vans and express service franchises.
Based on the LTFRB directive, violators will face a P5,000 penalty for the first offense. Repeat offenders will have their unit impounded for 30 days and the operator will be fined P10,000. Those who violate for the third time will be slapped a P15,000 fine, and have their franchise canceled.
