Baguio Taxi Service Circa 2007
You may have noticed how silent this blog has been for the past two weeks, and may think me a terrible blogger! I’ve been quiet because I’ve been looking for something nice about Baguio to write about (of course there are two restaurant features in the wings that require more research). “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything” applies to Baguio and me these days.
However, I did find this unfinished July 2007 post that was held in abeyance pending more urgent (political) matters. And I felt its release for those visiting Baguio this Christmas season very timely. Here goes…
Why Riding a Cab in Baguio is a Very Pleasant Experience
The taxi service Baguio is pretty good. I wouldn’t say exceptional, like the ones in Singapore, but nevertheless way better than Manila’s, for the following reasons:
1. The taxi drivers give you the exact change.
2. The taxi drivers do not expect tips (so don’t spoil them).
3. Cheaper than anywhere else in the country. The flag down in just Php25.00 for the first 500 meters, I believe, with an additional Php1.50/100 meters. That’s because the cabs here are not air conditioned.
4. It’s a “rider’s” market as the supply of cabs exceeds the demand, so they hardly “choose” their passengers.
5. The cabbies, especially the older ones, are pretty honest. They will generally choose the fastest way to get to your destination, which usually means avoiding Session Road, unless that’s where you’ll be dropped off. They will not take you round and round hoping for a higher fare. They also do not “contract” rates like they do in Manila. Their honesty, though, does not always go as far as returning to you stuff you leave behind, like cellphones.
6. We do have a large supply of taxi cabs so that now they are everywhere all day! It used to be that only Session Road had cabs waiting around for fare at 3am. Now, even ‘remote’ places like Pacdal have cabs available 24/7!
7. Baguio taxis are pretty well maintained. In all my years of commuting I have never once had one break down on me — knock on wood — not even a flat tire. Plus they do get them washed daily (that’s why we have car washes all over the place, even on the streets), and there’s hardly that sickeningly sweet smell of a cheap air freshener that is usually identified with the airconditioned Manila cab.
A Surplus of Taxis
“Why should I want a car when I have about 4,000 chauffeurs wanting to drive me around” - Pigeon Lobien in 2006
However (as Baguio always manages to have a “however”), we have too many of them! There was a study made about four (4) years ago that we needed about 500 more, but somehow an extra 2,500 magically appeared!
This was at around the time I was doing the initial research for the Go Baguio! website. Would you believe that I was passed around no less than six (6) times when I called the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ask for the number public transportation available in Baguio?! Finally, on my last phone call I was told that the person who knew the figures was on vacation. Duh, the number of franchises issued is not a matter of public record?
The question was quite innocent. I was not doing an investigation. I did not know that there was ‘magic’ in the air, as I found out much later on when suddenly the thousands of extra cabs appeared on the Baguio roads.
Now what’s the problem with having a surplus of taxi cabs?
1. Traffic, lots of it in the Central Business District. Hundreds of empty cabs waiting for fare, Taking up whatever lanes are available on Session Road.
2. Plus, with 3,000 jobs suddenly created, we actually had 3,000 new drivers from other provinces who did not know the Baguio roads. Now that becomes a problem if you are a tourist town, when the drivers have to ask the tourists for directions to their destination. The blind leading the blind!
There was one time I took a cab from SM and asked to be taken to Leonard Wood Road, and the driver said, “Where’s that?” So I pointed to that major road right below SM (that connects to Session Road, where SM is) and said, “That’s Leonard Wood!” Then I asked, “Where are you from?”? And the young lad said, “Abra.”
3. Security. With the possession of a professional driver’s license (as if it’s hard to get one in the Philippines) as the sole qualification to drive a taxi cab, we could have some “hold-uppers” masquerading as cab drivers to “hit” us one time big time and scurry back down to where they came from.
So I suggested to the Baguio Association of Hotels & Inns, for the BAHAI to coordinate with the Department of Tourism and the local government to hold seminars for taxi drivers and accredit them as “tourist taxis” so that they can be also be hired by the day and take guests on a tour of Baguio. They should know all the tourist spots and landmarks. Along with this should be a requirement for all taxi operators to constantly submit the names, photos and permanent addresses of their drivers to some central authority, for security reasons. Maybe the latter is already a requirement but I am hesitant to call LTFRB again because they seem to be very secretive.
So, for those of you coming up by public transport for the Christmas Holidays, know that you can get around very easily by cab. You may even hire them by the hour (just Php200.00) to take you on a tour of Baguio.
Should you encounter any dishonest or disrespectful cabbie, please take down their license plate and/or taxi name and report them to the police hotline: Dial 166
And for more information on getting around in Baguio City, you may want to check out the following pages at the Go Baguio! website:
Public Transportation Guide to Baguio City
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Added by Lisa on 20 Dec 2007
- Most Baguio Taxi cabs are AUVs (Asian Utility Vehicles like a Toyota Revo, Mitsubishi Adventure) although we do have quite a few sedans like the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra and Kia Pride for hire.
- For those visitors from Manila or other places in the Philippines who are accustomed to having 10 persons crammed into a Revo, please know that Baguio taxi cabs have a maximum load limit of five (5) persons, including the driver, although some cabbies will allow an extra person or two at times. The trunk area is used for luggage and other purchases, like grocery bags or market baskets.
- Camp John Hay does not allow empty taxi cabs to enter its gates, so if you are visiting the former American recreation facility, do not expect to be able find a cab inside easily when getting out. The good news is that the Filipino developer has actually abbreviated the areas that the general public can promenade in, so getting to the new Main Gate on Loakan and the other gate near Baguio Country Club is a much shorter walk compared to the long, graceful and beautiful Sheridan Drive that used to exit at the former Main Gate on the Upper Session Road / Loakan Road / South Drive / Military Cut-off roundabout.
yes baguio’s taxis are assets too… really honest.. been living quite a while in manila and I say baguio taxis is of great help to tourists… from my place to the trading post in la trinidad, thats only about 75.00 pesos… and you really do get your change… even 50 centavos… at times when they dont have change, the drivers round it of and at times lose 50 centavos,(which is really important to a liter of gasoline) and give you a peso.
on the other side… alot of taxis is a headache during rush hours… its also true some dont know all the routes, good for me I grew up in baguio…
tourist taxis that is a great idea too…
and the greatest thing an FX taxi all to yourself with fresh air.. nothing beats it… truly baguio…
I agree with all you say, Ranny. The taxi cab service is Baguio is so cheap and plentiful that it’s even impractical these days to bring a car to town, look for parking, pay for parking and waste so much time and fuel.
Ah, if Baguio could only do something about those horrid, smokeful, noisy, dangerous jeepneys!
It’s really a ‘taxi shock’ when I went to Manila one time and arrived there at 5:00am and had to take a taxi to my company’s shuttle service stop. I was so used to the honest taxi drivers of Baguio and when the taxi driver in Pasay charged me Php200 flat rate for 1km, I felt robbed. So for a Baguio girl I had to re-program my head to think that when I’m in Manila taxi drivers are out to take advantage and over-charge specially if you make it obvious that you are not from the area. When I’m in Manila, I have this high level of distrust when in public places. It’s like being in a den of crocodiles just waiting to bite.
I would rather be in Baguio anytime. But it’s also true that there are too many of them. There are too many vehicles in Baguio period. The city was really designed for 10,000 people.
Imagine my shock when I once rode a plane from Baguio to Manila (used to cost about Php800 then — years back), then I got into a “metered” airport taxi that charged me Php500 from Pasay to Makati. I had to get off at Makati even if I lived in Quezon City because it would have cost too much to go any further.
Many folks are selling their taxi franchises in Baguio because it’s just not profitable anymore, given all the competition. I worry about this because, unchecked, the cabbies mught start thinking of unethical ways to earn extra income.
But, to their credit, most of the cabbies here are still pretty honest and nice.
it is quite refreshing to ride a cab here in baguio. every time i get on a cab in manila, i’m always accompanied by this paranoid fear that i’m going to get mugged any second.
some of the younger drivers over here are getting too cocky for their own good, though. what is it with them and not having change? they do take the round-about route to weasel out a few more pesos. or sometimes, when the meter changes just as you stop, they still expect you to pay that measly Php1.50.
kudos to the older drivers, though
yesterday evening, around 7pm, saw 2 taxis deny passengers a ride, a man with a young boy. why’s that? or has one encountered a taxi driver who’ll ask you first where you’re going?
Yup Kubi,
With so many taxis added, Baguio could not have possibly supplied 3,000 more professional drivers all at once — so what has happened is that Baguio taxis can be driven by rude drivers from who knows where.
And yes Resty,
I can believe that happening to Baguio these days, because the drivers are unregulated. A friend of mine dropped off his girlfriend at home and then asked the driver to proceed to his home — the cabbie wanted a second flagdown of Php25.00. Imagine that!
Another guest of mine was asked for an extra Php100.00 from Loakan airport.
To everyone,
The best recourse against errant taxi drivers is to report the incident to the police Hotline is 166 or Text Mo Si . Let us not wait for them to dream up of different schemes that will turn the public off.
The poice have this Text Mo si Hepe program. The number is 0920-422-2861.
I had a cab break down on me once near Loakan. It was funny because I was listening to the clutch and I said “Manong, there’s something wrong with your clutch,” and right as I said it, it broke. Lol. Also, sometimes cabs ask for extra 20php when you’re more than 5, if you ask for them to karga extra passengers. Most usually agree, especially if it’s a short trip. Much better than Manila taxis for sure!
I grew up in Baguio in the 70’s & 80’s. Riding Taxis then was a treat, even though the first flag-down was 60 centavos for the first 500m & 40 centavos for the succeeding xxx meters, that’s why walking anywhere possible within & around the CBD was the norm. Result? healthier bodies (ignore the ‘camote’ legs) less pollution, traffic jam was never heard of.. list of advantages goes on… my point is, the LTFRB should know (or try to know) better in controlling the number of taxis & puj’s that services our great city…Thanks & regards
Rose, I guess there are a few worn taxis out there and what defense do they have against your ‘angel tongue?’ I think that they should not ask for an extra Php20 — yes or no will suffice, either they follow the law or violate it.
Ferdie, it used to be that one did not even think of riding a cab in Baguio in the 70s and 80s (oh no! we are dating ourselves). Problem is, no one is exposing the excesses and indiscretions perpetrated by the LTFRB. With sooo many PUVs around, they are ruining the joy of walking in Baguio!