GOOD HOSTS. Passengers of MS Silver Whisper are greeted by folk dancers hired by the City Tourism Department (CTD) when the luxury cruise ship docked at the Puerto Princesa port on Nov. 2, 2023. CTD head Demetrio Alvior Jr. on Thursday (May 30, 2024) warned taxi and tricycle drivers against charging tourists steep fares. (Photo by Izza Reynoso)
PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – The city government, through its tourism office, has issued a stern warning to taxi and tricycle drivers here who have been overcharging foreign guests to the detriment of the local tourism and hospitality sector.
Demetrio Alvior Jr., City Tourism Department (CTD) chief, told reporters on Thursday that a barrage of complaints from guests has prompted them to take the matter up with the City Council so it can review possible punitive measures that can be imposed on these drivers.
He said the CTD also reached out to the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for guidance on dealing with abusive drivers.
“Every week, we really receive complaints, especially regarding tricycles. Imagine, from the airport to Kinabuch (popular restaurant), they charge PHP300, and from the airport to Princesa Garden, PHP1,000. When a foreigner rides and just takes a city tour, they charge USD100 per person—let's not take advantage of tourists, because what we need is for them to come back,” Alvior said in Filipino.
He warned taxi drivers against negotiating fares with passengers instead of using the meter, which can cost them their licenses.
Another source of embarrassment was when Puerto Princesa hosted the Balikatan exercises, tricycle drivers reportedly facilitated transactions between soldiers and sex workers, he said.
This was the reason why the CTD ordered that tricycle drivers be kept away from hotel premises during the holding of the war games, he said.
“We're portraying ourselves poorly to them (tourists). Hopefully, they (transport sector) will cooperate and not become greedy, not resorting to being greedy, wanting a one-time, big-time gain,” he added. (PNA)
