THE Supreme Court (SC) has denied the petition filed by major taxi operators seeking to stop the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from implementing several memorandum circulars imposing standards and regulations for taxi and mega taxi units, including the issuance of taxi meter receipts.

In a one-page en banc resolution released on June 4, 2008, the SC held that the Court of Appeals (CA) did not err when it junked the petition for prohibition filed by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association Inc. (PNTOA), New Qualitrans Inc., R & E Transport Inc., ABC Transportation Services Inc., and Lucky 8 Transport Service seeking the nullification of LTFRB’s Memorandum Circulars 2003-10, 2003-020 and 2005.

“The Court resolved to deny the petition for review on certiorari, assailing the decision and resolution of the Court of Appeals, for failure thereof to sufficiently show that the public respondent committed any reversible error in the challenged decision and resolution as to warrant the  exercise by this Court of its discretionary appellate jurisdiction in this case,” the High Court said.

The appellate court earlier held that the circulars are intended to “ensure passengers’ welfare and safety.”

It described as “misplaced” the taxi operators’ claim that the requirement of taxi meter with receipts to be installed in taxis is for effective monitoring and improve revenue collection under Circular 2005-039.

The CA explained that the revenue collection goal expressed in that circular seems to be incidental only to the stated purpose of the requirement under Circular 2003-010, which is to “ensure passengers’ welfare and safety.” 

The taxi operators also failed to convince the CA that the circulars violate the Constitution’s equal-protection guarantee.

It noted that the requirement of installing taxi-meter-issuing receipts only for units operating within Metro Manila is justifiable, considering that tourism and commerce are concentrated in Metro Manila.

The CA said the volume of taxis and mega taxis is concentrated in Metro Manila. 

Taxis must issue receipts, SC rules

THE Supreme Court (SC) has denied the petition filed by major taxi operators seeking to stop the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from implementing several memorandum circulars imposing standards and regulations for taxi and mega taxi units, including the issuance of taxi meter receipts.

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