Photo Courtesy of Mark Brienzie Ramos

By Percy Roxas and Jennyrose Bitago

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has banned all Olongapo metered taxis from plying inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

In a letter to Atty. Reynaldo Abrenilla, chairman of the Bataan Olongapo Zambales Transport Service Corporation (BOZTSC) dated July 20, SBMA Chairman Jonathan Tan approved the suspension of the agreement allowing the entry of Olongapo metered-taxi on a drop-off basis inside the free port.

“The Olongapo metered taxis are still uncontrollable as they continue to pick up passengers inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) when the agreement with them is on a drop-off basis,” the letter reads.

Mixed reactions from commuters

The suspension order immediately elicited mixed reactions from various sectors, including Freeport workers, locators, and residents, who were quick to comment on social media.

As a regular commuter, Joan Degoma Arlanza finds the limited access of metered taxis to the free port incredibly frustrating and inconvenient. 

“The Freeport Zone is a popular destination for both tourists and local workers, and the lack of readily available metered taxis makes it challenging for us to get to and from this area efficiently,” said Arlanza.

According to Arlanza, the limited access to metered taxis means that we often have to rely on other transportation options, such as private cars, ride-sharing services, or the non-metered SBMA taxi. While these alternatives may be available, they can be more expensive or less reliable, especially during peak travel times. Additionally, some of us may prefer the convenience and transparency of metered taxis, as they provide a clear indication of the fare based on the distance traveled.”

“The restricted access of metered taxis might also lead to a monopoly of transportation services within the Freeport Zone, with only a few select operators benefiting from the situation. This could potentially result in higher fares or subpar service for commuters who have limited options,” said Arlanza

Arlanza believes that improving the access of metered taxis to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone would be beneficial for both commuters and the local economy.

 “It would enhance the overall transportation experience for visitors and workers alike, making it easier for people to access the Freeport Zone and contribute to its growth and development,” said Arlanza

 “I hope that relevant authorities will consider the commuter’s perspective and work towards “finding a solution that ensures a fair and accessible transportation system for everyone who needs to travel to and from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” she added

Rica Bustamante Agbanglo expressed disappointment over the suspension saying that banning the metered taxis inside free port creates difficulties, especially for those going to Baypointe Hospital and the students at the Regional Science High School

“There is no efficient and affordable means of transportation from RS, the commuting students need to take a taxi, which can be quite costly for them. I hope authorities resolve this issue as soon as possible as students will return to going classes and we they will have a hard time again.

Many commuters believe that the operation of metered taxis is beneficial compared to the rates charged by SBMA-accredited taxis. 

As Evelyn Luchavez San Juan attested: “…ang laki po talaga ng difference. Sa metered taxi from SM Downtown to SBECC 80 pesos. lang. Pero sa SBMA taxi from SBECC to Ayala Harbor Point is 150 pesos. Grabe.” (…there’s really a big difference indeed. A metered taxi from SM Downtown to SBECC will cost you only P80, while an SBMA-accredited taxi from SBECC to Ayala Harbor Point will cost you P150 already. It’s too much!)

Olongapo city appealed

On Monday, Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. announced on his official Facebook page that he have sent a formal letter to SBMA urging them to lift the suspension of entry of metered taxis from the city as this deprives the riding public of viable options of transportation. 

“To my understanding, they are LTFRB ( Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) franchise holders authorized to pick up and drop off passengers within the whole of Region 3. With all this, rest assured that we will not prevent SBMA taxis from dropping off passengers within our jurisdiction for the benefit of the passengers. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon.” said Paulino.

In his letter, Paulino said that while the metered taxis are authorized to pick up and drop off passengers in Region 3, they have an internal agreement to only drop off passengers within the free port.

“If some metered taxis have violated this agreement by picking up passengers within the SBFZ, the office agrees that those violators should be penalized,” his letter to SBMA reads. FREEPORT INSIDER