I'm not a "Philippine-taxi" fan
By vianneyanzu
@vianneyanzu (908)
Philippines
May 31, 2008 8:23am CST
Yes, i used "Philippine-taxi" to distinguish them from the taxis around the world. Yeah, I'm not a Philippine-taxi fan...They're really like hold-uppers considering their very discourteous ways. They don't start their meters or they make up excuses for them to be able to not start the meter so that they can charge you higher....
Of course, not all taxi drivers are like that but definitely, the Philippine taxi drivers are so unprofessional!
To the foreigners, don't be fooled by them....Make sure they start their meters if they don't or if they make excuses go down and find another taxi.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
31 May 08
Well, you can't really generalize all the taxi-drivers. Because here in Davao City, Philippines, drivers are different. Maybe in Metro Manila because my friends experienced that also. I don't want to sound defensive, but please say that Philippine taxi-drivers are unprofessional, some maybe but not in general. Please be kind with your words. A relative of mine is a taxi driver and he is a good one.
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
31 May 08
rather, please don't say that Philippines taxi-drivers are unprofessional.
1 person likes this
@vianneyanzu (908)
• Philippines
31 May 08
my deepest apologies, I didn't mean to be rude...:(
I think I have been generalizing too much...
yeah, it's true that there are still a lot of taxi drivers who do their job well...
I was just ranting with those who don't do their job well...
I'm really Sorry...

@vianneyanzu (908)
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
yeah,, I haven't been to Davao...but I've been to Baguin though I haven't experienced riding a taxi there...
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
2 Jun 08
Everlasting is right, most taxis here in Cebu, especially those lined or waiting for passengers at the airport are trying to get passengers, contracting them for high prices, without using their meters. What I usually do is to ignore them and look for another taxi which uses their meters.
1 person likes this
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
I am sorry but I would have to disagree with you. I always take cab everyday since my work starts 5 in the morning. So far I don't find any taxi drivers that are holduppers but there are some that are rude. I hope that i would never cross path with holduppers! There are still honest and nice drivers still not all drivers are like that.
@vianneyanzu (908)
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
I didn't mean to say that taxi drivers are hold-uppers. What I meant to say is that they seem to be like hold-uppers because they charge higher than what is supposed to be charged. Then again, not all are like that. I just hope there will still be more and more who will do their job well...
@TheManager24 (1302)
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
well, i've been to Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. So far, it is just in Manila that they are not used to putting on a meter. However, I am not having any
whenever I am in Makati or MNL Airport.
The taxi drivers in Baguio, Cebu, and Davao are generally nice.
I even left the cab without taking the ten peso change and the driver called me and gave me the change. I think Filipino drivers are generally courteous and we should let the world know that it is generally safe to ride a Philippine taxi.
One suggestion that we can share is- they can utilize the airport taxi if they wish to travel comfortably and if they need receipts.
whenever I am in Makati or MNL Airport.
The taxi drivers in Baguio, Cebu, and Davao are generally nice.
One suggestion that we can share is- they can utilize the airport taxi if they wish to travel comfortably and if they need receipts.@vianneyanzu (908)
• Philippines
2 Jun 08
yeah, what you said about Makati is true...
It's so disciplined there...
@chubibo (294)
• Philippines
2 Jun 08
not all taxi drivers are like that..but i admitted that there are some who dont give you exact change, specially in manila..but instead of just complaining, i may suggest that you will report them to the LTO.. taxi drivers in davao are courteous because rules were strictly implemented by the city government..but im not saying manila is worst..there are taxi drivers too who were courteous..
i dont think its proper to used "philippine taxi drivers are so unprofessional".. 





1 person likes this
@vianneyanzu (908)
• Philippines
2 Jun 08
yeah,, I know.. my bad...that's why I said in one comment that I overgeneralized...
I know there are still who are courteous, that's why I said that whenever they get to ride in a taxi wherein they don't start the meter, they should go look for another one. With which i meant that there are still the courteous ones around...
@bullyvirgil (238)
• Philippines
1 Jun 08
in defense to taxi drivers, yeah they all do what you said but give them a break they are taxi drivers they don't get salaries as big as yours. they are working almost the whole day/night so that their families eat 3 times a day. and most of them are only drivers and don't own the vehicle and must give their respective boundaries to the owner.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13729)
• Philippines
2 Jun 08
This is why i only take the taxi when i only desperately need one... and i am very cautious since i make it a point to show the driver that i am always looking at the meter... i have been to different parts of the Philippines... but it is only in Manila where i once encountered a very rude taxi driver... we can always report them... the MMDA are now very strict about this...
1 person likes this
@zeroflashx2 (2491)
• Philippines
31 May 08
I second vianneyanzu. Some taxi drivers here use devices to speed up the meter and they are so inventive that even shifting gears can trigger a slight increase in fare. I have been on a taxi as well where the driver didn't flag down their meter and demanded for a fixed fare. I said fix this! (in Filipino :D) and I went out for another one.
There are some reputable taxi operators out there such as R&E. although these things happen individually per driver, big companies such as R&E provides lesser risk.
Take care as well during the night. Robbers sometimes disguise themselves as taxi drivers and brings their victims to dark places and takes away all their money/stuff.
Not to scare any one out there who plan to visit the country. Just be extra careful anywhere you go, anywhere in the world. Evil is lurking. A small step ahead goes a long way. 

1 person likes this
@eihdra (3115)
• Philippines
31 May 08
hi. If you're at a mall and got a taxi from the taxi line, you can ask the security guard to tell the taxi driver to flag down because they have rules posted there that they could be reported. if this usually happens to you, write down the taxi's plate number and name so you could text it or call the Land Transportation, so they can check and survey if this is really happening. Once proven, they can penalize or cancel the franchise ownership. When I'm at Sm malls, i know that this has been happening. The guard knows about this but they are in cahoots with the taxi drivers. So, whenever i get a taxi, I always ask the guard, why the taxis there are not using the meters. i wouldnt say that Im going to report them. I just mentioned it casually so the guard can alert the taxi driver that I have been asking. And so, when I get in, the driver will flag down the meter.










