Letting passengers choose

Last Sunday evening, as we landed in Manila looking for the exit doors at the departure area of NAIA terminal 3, we came across a group of disappointed, disgruntled, and angry passengers who were denied access to regular metered taxis and was being redirected by security to the arrival area to take airport taxis that have a much higher flagdown rate. This, despite the fact that NAIA terminal 3 departure area has a “LOADING” sign where metered regular taxis usually wait for passengers.

When these passengers asked to speak to the management, no representative of NAIA came to address the issue. The security merely said that they have been given a verbal order and it has been implemented for three days already. Passengers unwilling to take the expensive airport taxis were then informed by aiport security personnel that they could either (1) walk out of the airport grounds to hail regular taxis on the street; or (2) take airport shuttles with limited routes. These choices given by NAIA to passengers are both hardly convenient options, especially for those carrying multiple pieces of luggage, for senior citizens, for those traveling with children, and for persons with disabilities.

However, the passengers stood their ground and wrote a complaint addressed to NAIA management, supporting a written testimony of a fellow passenger saying that he has “been riding (regular) metered taxi from terminal 3 to save money for the past 3 years,” because “airport taxi charges more than double the (regular metered taxi) fare.”

Passengers usually have an option to take aiport taxis or regular ones. While some opt for the convenience of airport taxis, others would rather take a regular one to save more money. NAIA management’s explanation for the said action was to ensure the safety of passengers as they have been receiving a number of complaints against regular metered taxis who practice pangongontrata (contracting passengers to pay higher than what is expected) and other forms of deceit. We believe, however, that as consumers and as is explicitly states in the Eight Basic Consumer rights, we are entitled to “The Right To Choose” which is the “the right to choose products at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.”

Additionally, not all passengers can afford to pay for the higher charges of airport taxis. Given the cheap flights we have now, airport taxis could cost higher than the air fare itself. While some people have the luxury to pay for a thousand pesos from Manila to Quezon City, most people would rather save their money for something more important.

As of writing, NAIA and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has clarified that regular metered taxis are still allowed at the NAIA 3 departure area and that passengers are allowed to take them, except that these taxis are prohibited from making a queue. MIAA has also stated that there was a miscommunication between the management and the security, causing the ruckus that happened last Sunday.

Dakila lauds the people who stood their ground and remained critical of non-existent policies. Hopefully, the same spirit would apply in every situation our country faces, and not just during personal circumstances. This spirit of standing ground, being critical, and vigilance breeds democracy and empowers people to claim their rights.

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