The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced a heightened campaign against abusive taxi drivers and airport transport scams at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), in collaboration with the airport’s new operator, to establish a more transparent, efficient, and accountable transportation system.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eradicating dishonest practices that tarnish the country’s image and inconvenience both Filipino and foreign travelers. This intensified crackdown directly responds to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to put an end to long-standing abusive practices at the nation’s premier gateway.
“It is important for our countrymen to understand that the direction of our President is very clear – that this long-standing abuse by taxis at the airport, not only against our fellow Filipinos but also against tourists which brings great shame to our country, must be stopped,” Secretary Dizon stated during a Palace press briefing. “We are not only cracking down, but we are also coordinating with the new operator of NAIA to create a better, more transparent, and improved system there at NAIA to prevent these long-standing practices against our people.”
Since the launch of the NAIA crackdown on June 21, a total of 11 taxi drivers have been apprehended for offenses including overcharging and operating with expired or fake taxi franchises. As a result, the driver’s licenses of these 11 offenders have been invalidated, and their respective taxi operators have been suspended.
The DOTr is also actively investigating reports of alleged collusion between corrupt taxi drivers and airport police personnel. So far, five personnel have been relieved from their posts as a thorough investigation, led by Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar, Administrator of the Office for Transportation Security, remains ongoing.
Undersecretary Bisnar will work closely with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines in conducting this inquiry.
This comprehensive approach by the DOTr underscores the government’s resolve to not only penalize offenders but also to implement lasting systemic changes that will ensure a safer, fairer, and more welcoming experience for all passengers at NAIA.
