An Iloilo City councilor has sought clarification from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the basis for granting 100 blue taxi units to operate in the city.
“We really wanted to know how they determined that there is a need for additional units in the City of Iloilo. That particular need or demand would have been the basis for them to issue, to open unit applications for franchise,” said Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chair of the committee on transportation, in a media interview Monday.
Cabaluna said the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay (ATOP) had earlier raised concerns about new competitors, including ride-hailing services, and maintained that there is currently no demand for more taxi units in the city.
While the LTFRB has the authority to issue franchises, Cabaluna emphasized that such decisions must be backed by clear data and communicated to the public.
He also warned that adding more taxis could worsen traffic congestion in Iloilo, where road space remains limited.
Aside from seeking the rationale behind the new franchises, Cabaluna said he also wants to know the current status of their issuance.
He shared that during a recent meeting with LTFRB Regional Director Richard Osmeña, he was informed that available taxi franchises had already been published as early as January.
“The slots were not filled in, and here comes an operator from Davao who applied,” Cabaluna said.
The councilor is set to meet again with ATOP to discuss their concerns regarding the additional taxi units.