Captain's Log: MMDA's Trip Tracker: A Crime Deterrent Measure vs. Erring Cab Drivers

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Captain's Log Supplemental Stardate -314706.19

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando today described his “Trip Tracker” project as a crime-deterrent measure designed to nail erring cab drivers who connive with crime groups.

Dubbed as “Iwas Holdap, Pagtugon sa Oras ng Kagipitan”, the latest anti-crime tack is being launched under the Safe City Program of the agency.

“We need to protect the commuters against crimes taking place inside public utility vehicles, particularly taxi cabs,” Fernando said, adding that the measure was prompted by rising complaints by returning Overseas Filipino Workers, balikbayans, students and women against abusive cabbies.

Aside from its Metrocall 136 hotline, the passengers can access the MMDA cellphone nos. - 09175618709 (Globe) and 09209472116 (Smart) to send their text messages for complaints.

Passengers simply need to text the plate numbers and name of the taxi cab as soon as they are on board the taxi. “This way, cab drivers will have second thought before perpetuating his malicious intent, if any,” he said.

This new measure gives the MMDA a way to build profiles and track the behavior of the drivers.

“Nowadays, the perception is that the taxis are no longer safe. Passengers are being robbed and taken advantage of. We really need to monitor so that the driver and the operators can be held liable in case something happen to their passengers,” Fernando said.

He said passengers can report all cases of traffic violations, including refusal to convey passengers, using defective taximeters, overcharging or asking additional cash other than the rate indicated on the taximeter. They can also report rude and impolite cab drivers.

The MMDA will be putting stickers bearing the hotline nos. inside the taxi cabs and other public utility vehicles such as buses, jeeps and tricycles.

It will also be posting more stickers at taxi stands, waiting sheds, shopping malls and other public places to aptly inform the public.

Mila Silvestre of the MMDA Communications and Monitoring Center said they have set up a system where text messages sent by the passengers are automatically transmitted to the computer for segregation and processing by MMDA personnel.

These computers are interconnected with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Land Transportation Office (LTO), she said.

Silvestre added that disposition of proper action will depend upon the complaint to be forwarded by the passengers.

“If it involves the commission of crimes, we will coordinate it with the PNP and if it is traffic related, we can coordinate it with the Traffic Operations Center or the LTO, for proper action,” she said.

Even drivers who want to know if they have outstanding traffic violations can text the MMDA for verification.

*Computer end log*