ILOILO City – Two major taxi operators’ groups in Panay Island have requested clarification from transportation regulators regarding the operating status and compliance process of a newly introduced “blue taxi” fleet.
They are appealing to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 to ensure that policies affecting all taxi operators are implemented “fairly and equally.”
The Association of Taxi Operators of Panay, Inc. (ATOP) and the United Taxi Operators of Panay (UTOP) made the call during a press conference, where their representatives discussed concerns raised by their member-operators.
“Our main concern is whatever policies applied to us should also be applied to the blue taxi,” ATOP chairperson Perfecto Yap said. “It would be unfair for all of us who undergo the required processes if other units are already operating while still completing theirs. So, fair and square lang ang kinahanglan naton.”
Color ‘Violation’ Raised
Operators also questioned why only three blue taxi units were apprehended by LTO-6 for sporting the color blue despite being allegedly registered as white — while the remaining 97 blue units continue to operate.
“It is an established fact that the blue taxi units upon arrival… are all colored with a uniform shade of blue,” the groups said in a press statement, citing records that the official registered color of the units is “white.”
They stressed that changing a vehicle’s color without approval violates Section II(b) of Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.
Given this, Yap insisted that sanctions imposed on the three units must also apply to the entire fleet.
‘How Are They Operating?’ Operators Ask
ATOP operations supervisor Rodrigo Baculado questioned how the blue taxis were allowed to ply routes when their change-of-classification process — from private to “for hire” — had allegedly not yet been uploaded or reflected in LTO systems.
“Pag-check namon sa LTO wala pa sang record ang blue taxi… so paano makadalagan sila?” Baculado said.
He claimed that while the agencies granted the blue fleet 30 days to complete requirements, the units were already operating even before compliance was completed.
“Amo na ang isa sa ginasakitan sang buot sang mga tumandok,” he said. “Dapat patas lang.”
Local Operators Say They Are Disadvantaged
Marie Joy Celis of C Gop Taxi said their group is now “affected” because the blue newcomers appear to be allowed to operate with leniency.
“Gusto namon patas lang ang tanan… Gina-comply namon ang tanan, tagaan man kami sang priority,” she said.
ATOP legal counsel Atty. Bjorn Denfield Hudierez emphasized that a taxi franchise is “a privilege, not a right,” and all operators — old or new — must follow the same regulatory standards.
“So daw ka-unfair lang nga kami nga locals nagasunod sa ila, ang pangayaw amo sina,” he said.
Groups File Complaint, Warn of Elevating Issue to Manila
Hudierez said ATOP and UTOP have formally submitted their complaint letter to the LTFRB-6 and LTO-6 and are awaiting action.
“Very consistent ang ginapangayo namon — fair competition… Wala namon ginakontra ang blue taxi. Ang amon lang healthy competition… fair lang, patas lang ang laban,” he stressed.
If the regional offices fail to act, he said the groups are prepared to elevate the matter to their agencies’ central offices./PN