Philippines Taxis

Taxis and their drivers

Taxis may only be found in cities. This means any town with the suffix "-City" like Cebu-City, Iloilo-City and so on. The reason is that tricycles are not allowed within the city limits. They are confined in the outskirts and adjacent barangays. With this rule city-majors try to reduce the traffic congestions caused by the slow fuming tricycles and motorelas. Taxis can be caught on airports and bus terminals. They can also be called in any spot in town by simply making a sign. More often you will be recognized as a tourist and each empty taxi approaches you, the driver making sound the horn.

Taxis are from "dealer new" Toyotas with a few 100 km of life to old, rusty Chryslers hold together with a lot of rusty wire and tape. On most taxis you can read "aircon". When the air condition works, you will freeze within the next mile, but most of the time it doesn't work and the driver helds his elbow out of the window.

You can sit in the rear seats or in the front seat. Lots of drivers are fine guys and give you free information about their city and more ...

Taxi Fares

Manila's taxi fares are known to be the lowest in the world. For the common white taxis the flag falls at PHP 30 (when it falls...). Each 300 meters costs PHP 2.50 like every two minutes the taxi stands motionless.

The yellow airport taxis are more expensive: Flagfall is PHP 70 including 500 meters. Then the counter raises by PHP 4.00 every 300 meters.

The fare can vary from the simple to the triple in function of the traffic conditions. The fastest and cheapest ride from Manila NAIA Airport to Makati we got on Easter this year: PHP 85 instead of the usual PHP 150.

The most important thing is that you insist in putting on the meter. There are honest drivers who switch on the meter without being asked for. Others do it after you have asked for and others will not. The only solution to deal with this last category is either to:
- get off the taxi
- remind the driver that you will call the police
- start to dial on your cell phone
- open the window and call for a police agent
Usually the driver puts on the meter, seeing that you know the rules.

During 2009 the LTFBR (Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board) introduces new meters that give you a printed receipt. See pictures on the right below.

Taxi Security

In the past we have read and heard about taxi hijacking. There were (are?) two types of hijacking known in Manila:
1) The taxi drives you not where you ought to be driven to, but in a bad lit outskirt road where his gang waits and you have to deposit everything of value you have with you.
2) A suddenly fast holdup at a traffic light. The driver is robbed and most probably you also.

We never had such problems and do know nobody who has experienced them. It seems that taxis have become sure in Manila. but please, be careful. Do not show all your glistening jewelery, big batches of 100 Dollar bills and all your video or computer gear.