Safety Tips When Commuting via Taxi in Metro Manila

Dear friends,

I just met with a friend yesterday who had just emerged from a 9-hour ordeal. he was kidnapped in the heart of the makati business district! Around noon the day before, he emerged from lpl towers on leviste st., salcedo village to go to a lunch meeting in pasong tamo. he decided not to take his car because parking in makati can be a hassle. talking on the phone, he hopped into the first available cab.

Later he realized the cab was taking a route that was unusual. he called the driver’s attention to this but was ignored. the cab entered into urban road, the road by urban bank which is parallel to buendia. it stopped and three other men got in. He tried to struggle but they stabbed his wrist which of course bled profusely. When he heard the sound of a gun being cocked, he stopped struggling and gave in to all their demands. They had him withdraw from all four bank accounts, took his cellphone and palm pilot and dropped him off in cavite somewhere near trece martires. the motorists ignored him as he tried to flag them down but he was finally able to make it back to makati somehow.

He reported the incident to the makati police and was told that it was the third such incident in the week. One happened to a student who got a cab in rockwell, the other to a citibank female executive who was taking a cab from paseo de roxas to glorietta but ended up in cavite. the cabs were stolen. I assume all targets were well-dressed (my friend was in coat and tie) and upwardly-mobile looking, where hapless expats and tourist used to be the victims of similar crimes, young executies and students are now the new targets. Please warn your friends to be careful about taxicabs especially in the makati district, perhaps the best way to take a taxi would be in the queues where they hand you a piece of paper with all the taxi info and the ltfrb number, or to call for one from a reputable cab company such as golden or r & e.

- Albano Nino (Posted April 2012)

For everyone’s security and protection, please be guided on some precautions when commuting via public taxi:

As much as possible, hire a cab from a taxi company you are familiar with or one recommended by family or friends. It is best that you request for the car number of your preferred driver (if any) when hiring a cab. It is also wise to pre-book a taxi, especially for an evening trips or a trip to an unfamiliar destination. Here is a list of some of these more well-known, reliable taxi companies:

• R&E Taxi - 362-1890
• Nissan Taxi - 551-2439
• Basic Taxi - 643-7777
• Crown Star Taxi - 747-3064
• Avis Taxi - 879-5263 or 879-5282
• EMP - 293-5930, 293-5931 or 291-7005
• MGE - 364-8260, 363-6096 or 366-6214
• Nine Star - 330-1654

1. Avoid taxi drivers who refuse to turn on their meters or insist on negotiating a flat fare.
2. Once you have chosen a taxi, take note of the driver’s name (ID should be conspicuously displayed), vehicle plate number, body markings and color.
3. Unscrupulous drivers may take you on the longest route possible to jack up the fare. Always pay attention to the routes you are taking. If necessary, review a map or contact a friend who could help you with directions.
4. Some will devise excuses to force you into giving them your change. Always carry small bills for the exact fare and for tips, or if you choose to give some for longer journey or superior customer service.
5. In instances where drivers overcharge, cut tips or are rude, immediately report the incident to the LTO via their hotline 922-9061 and to LTFRB via numbers 426-2515/ 925-7192/ 0921-4487777. Landlines may be contacted on weekdays (except weekend and holidays) from 8AM -5PM only, while mobile phones are available anytime for calls or text messages. Those who have been victimized by unscrupulous drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV, including taxis, you may call the MMDA hotline through 0917-5618709, or send a text message containing the name, plate number of the vehicle, and brief detail of the incident.
6. For police assistance and emergency, text PNP 2920 and call or text 117.
7. To get vehicle details, text LTO VEHICLE to 2600.

Source: Philipinas Shell