Guidelines on the Operation of Unaccredited Metered Taxis (UMT's) at the NAIA Terminals

September 22, 2017

MIAA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 15-17

 

I. GENERAL

1. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), by virtue of Executive Order No. 903, is mandated to promulgate rules and regulations for the efficient and effective management of airport operations, including passenger handling and other services directed towards the care, convenience, and security of passengers, visitors and airport users. Pursuant thereto, there is a need to promulgate rules that will govern Unaccredited Metered Taxis provisionally operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals.

II. PURPOSE, SCOPE & LIMITATION

1. This Memorandum Circular states the policy and prescribes the rules governing the operations of Unaccredited Metered Taxis at the NAIA Terminals for the protection of passengers and other patrons thereof. Prohibited acts and the corresponding penalty are likewise defined herein.

2. This Memorandum Circular applies to all Metered Taxis, duly registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) but not duly accredited with the Authority.

3. Airport Metered Taxis are not covered by these provisions and shall continue to be governed by Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2015. 1

III. DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. The following terms, as used in this Memorandum Circular, shall have the following definitions respectively:

a. Unaccredited Metered Taxis (UMT's) — refers to metered taxis duly registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) but are not accredited by MIAA and the Department of Tourism (DOT), that operate within the NAIA Terminals.

b. UMT Complaint Officer — a MIAA official that is identified and enumerated in this Memorandum Circular authorized to receive verified complaints against UMT's.

c. Verified Complaint — a formal complaint-affidavit stating the acts or omissions committed by the driver or other personnel of UMT's in violation of this Memorandum Circular and all applicable issuances from the Authority, or violations of the Revised Penal Code or any other special penal laws, duly signed by the Complainant and sworn to before a notary public, and submitted before any of the UMT Complaint Officers, as enumerated in this Memorandum Circular.

d. Investigating Officer — refers to a Terminal Manager or a team delegated with authority by such Terminal Manager to review, investigate and confirm the allegations in the Verified Complaint. Unless the investigation is initiated and taken cognizance of by the Office of the General Manager (GM), the Investigating Officer is responsible for the preparation and filing of the report with its findings and recommendations with the Office of the General Manager for disposition.

e. UMT Franchise — pertains to the franchise holder duly accredited with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and to which entity the erring UMT belongs.

f. Absolute Perpetual Ban (APB) — the sole imposable penalty not only upon the erring UMT driver but for the entire fleet of the UMT franchise upon verification of the acts or omissions complained of in the Verified Complaint. HTcADC

IV. GENERAL GUIDELINES AND UNDERTAKINGS

1. UMT's that will operate within the NAIA Terminals shall comply with the following guidelines and undertake to:

a. Comply with all traffic, operational, and other regulatory issuances of the Authority, including on-the-spot or random inspection by MIAA authorized representatives, and extend cooperation with the Authority in the conduct of investigations regarding any incident directly or indirectly involving transport operations;

b. Observe utmost courtesy, consideration, and honesty in dealing with its passengers and personnel of MIAA, with high regard for the good name of their respective companies and the Authority as well;

c. Completely adhere to and observe all requirements and regulatory issuances mandated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), including but not limited to, the conspicuous display of the official LTFRB ID with name and cellphone number for passenger identification and reference;

d. Ensure at all times that its taxis are roadworthy with fully functional accessories such as its air-conditioning unit, among others, and equipped with the necessary tools in case of vehicle troubleshooting and/or accident;

e. Accept passengers impartially, regardless of sex, nationality, religion, or creed, social standing, or destination, and without resort to solicitation;

f. Exert utmost efforts to diligently unload passenger baggage and belongings to ensure that none is left in the taxi and to safekeep any passenger baggage or belonging that, despite the utmost efforts of the UMT driver as required by the immediately preceding paragraph, may have been inadvertently left behind by the passenger;

g. Immediately return any item left to the passenger, if determinable, or immediately surrender the same to the Airport Police (AP) or nearest police station and shall, in their presence, exert best efforts to communicate with the owner of the same, if ascertained; and

h. Perform any and all other similar acts, necessary or incidental to accomplish the foregoing undertakings, with extraordinary diligence as may be required by law.

V. PROHIBITED ACTS

1. The following acts are strictly prohibited:

a. All forms of dishonesty to passengers and MIAA personnel such as, but not limited to, the following:

i. Fare Overcharging;

ii. Deliberate failure or an attempt not to turnover items or belongings that may have been inadvertently left by passengers;

iii. Failure to issue or issuing a false receipt;

iv. Operating the taxi with a tampered meter;

v. Failure to flag down or not turning the meter on;

vi. Shortchanging or failure to give exact change;

vii. Deliberate intention to prolong the route to the delay the passenger and for the purpose of increasing the metered rate;

b. Contracting or solicitation of passengers;

c. Unjustified refusal to completely convey the passenger to the agreed destination or trip cutting, whether or not fare reduction was extended;

d. Driving without a license or with an expired or fake one;

e. Using a taxi with a fake vehicle plate number;

f. Assault on MIAA officials, employees, passengers, or other airport users;

g. Corrupting MIAA officials or employees to influence them in exchange for a favor, whether or not the favor was given;

h. Extorting, soliciting, or asking for any tip, whether cash or in kind;

i. Alarms and scandal;

j. All forms of gambling, whether with or without cash involved;

k. Possession of illegal firearms or any other deadly weapon;

l. Driving or operating the taxi under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or other prohibited substances;

m. Possession, sale, or transport of illegal drugs or controlled precursors or substances within the NAIA premises;

n. Use of taxi with expired, revoked, suspended, or without valid Certificate of Public Convenience;

o. Arrogance and discourtesy in the performance of duties or in dealing with MIAA officials, employees, passengers or airport users;

p. Rowdy or boisterous behavior within the airport premises;

q. Solicitation of passengers;

r. Improper loading or unloading of passengers or goods at unauthorized queuing or loading areas;

s. Improper parking and queuing of taxis;

t. Violation of Non-smoking policy;

u. Improper display or covering of taxi meter device;

v. Loitering and improper decorum at the parking areas or designated areas or in any other area within the NAIA premises;

w. Commission of any other act or omission punishable by the Revised Penal Code or by special penal laws; and

x. Any other similar and analogous acts. cSEDTC

VI. ONE-STRIKE PENALTY POLICY

1. Upon investigation and confirmation of the acts or omissions complained of in the verified complaint, an ABSOLUTE PERPETUAL BAN shall be immediately imposed, not only upon the erring taxi driver but for the entire fleet of the UMT franchise to which the erring taxi driver belongs. Thus, the entire fleet of the responsible UMT franchise shall be absolutely prohibited to pick up passengers and from queuing at the arrival area of the NAIA Terminals indefinitely.

VII. RECEIPT & DISPOSITION OF VERIFIED COMPLAINT

1. The Verified Complaint, which shall clearly state the acts or omissions complained of, duly signed by the Complainant, and subscribed and sworn to before a Notary Public, may be submitted to any of the following UMT Complaint Officers of MIAA:

a. General Manager (GM)

b. Senior Assistant General Manager (SAGM)

c. Assistant General Managers (AGM's)

d. Terminal Managers (TM);

e. Duty Manager, Terminal Duty Officers and On-Duty Action Officers;

f. Manager, Intelligence Division;

g. Manager, ID/Pass Control Department;

h. Manager, APD and Terminal Police Chiefs;

i. APD Staff Officer/Personnel and TF Operatives;

j. Curbside Management Officers;

k. SG's on duty at the curbsides.

2. Upon submission, the receiving officer shall immediately take cognizance of the Complaint or endorse the same to the appropriate Terminal Manager for review, investigation, and verification.

3. If the allegations in the Verified Complaint are confirmed and verified upon review and investigation, the responsible investigating officer shall immediately submit its report with its findings and recommendations to the Office of the General Manager, unless the investigation was initiated by the latter, in which case it shall have the motu proprio authority to immediately dispose of the verified complaint.

4. Upon receipt of the report, the Office of the General Manager shall have the sole discretion to implement the ABSOLUTE PERPETUAL BAN upon the erring taxi driver and the entire fleet of the UMT franchise to which said taxi belongs by causing the posting of notices with the following information:

a. Name of the UMT driver with picture, if available;

b. Name of the UMT franchise; and

c. Such other matters or information necessary to implement the Absolute Perpetual Ban.

5. No Motion for Reconsideration shall be entertained.

VIII. EXCEPTING PROVISIONS

1. Nothing contained in this Circular shall be construed or interpreted as a modification, substitution, or repeal, whether express or implied of the laws, rules and regulations of the National Government or Local Government Units regulating land transportation services and facilities, such as those imposed by the LTO, LTFRB, MMDA, and the Cities of Pasay and Parañaque;

2. The One-Strike Penalty provided in this Memorandum Circular shall be without prejudice to any other applicable penalty to the taxi driver and/or the UMT franchise holder for corresponding violations of laws, rules and regulations, that may be imposed by the National Government, the Local Government Units, or other governmental agencies.

3. The Authority reserves the right to amend or modify any provision of this Circular with proper notice and after compliance with the necessary publication requirements.

IX. SUPERSEDING CLAUSE

1. All MIAA issuances in conflict with this Circular are hereby superseded or modified accordingly.

X. EFFECTIVITY

1. This Circular shall take effect immediately upon approval and due publication.

For strict compliance.

(SGD.) EDDIE V. MONREALGeneral Manager

Footnotes

1. Article III, Section 4 (a) of Memorandum Circular No. 08.

  Airport Metered Taxi — is a yellow colored taxi duly accredited by MIAA and the Department of Tourism (DOT) covered with metered device/receipt taxi service franchise servicing passengers and airport users in NAIA Terminals with rates depending on the actual distance and time covered.