Out of the 700 operating taxi units in Bacolod City only 170 units have been calibrated as of yesterday, Lino Gulmatico, officer-in-charge of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Bacolod Extension Office, said.

LTFRB Bacolod started calibrating taximeters on Jan. 24 but only a few have submitted their units for recalibration, Gulmatico said.

LTFRB regional director Romulo Bernardes yesterday said that a memorandum from the national office said that taxi operators have only until Feb. 24 to do so.

However, he clarified that regional directors are given the authority to set their own deadlines and how they are going to implement it.

Bernardes said he will issue a regional memorandum on the official deadline for taxi calibration after their regional managers conference on Feb.16-18 in Cagayan de Oro City.

He also said that taxi operators should not wait for the regional memorandum because it is their obligation to undergo calibration.

If taxi operators will not meet the requirements one month after the issuance of the memorandum, they will be fined P3,000 for first offense, P4,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for the third offense and the cancellation of their franchise, Bernardes said.

Taxis cannot impose new rates unless their meters are calibrated to receipt-issuing meter, he added.

Meanwhile, Gulmatico is calling all taxi operators to comply with the requirements to avoid penalties.*LTG

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