By Anna Valmero

MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Good news to Makati commuters.

Taxi drivers who abuse their passengers will be apprehended, according to Makati city mayor Jejomar Binay who ordered the re-launch of the “Oplan Isnaberong Tsuper” this holiday season.

According to the Makati City local government website, Binay ordered both the Makati Police and the Department of Public Safety to help protect Makati’s constituents from taxi drivers who refuse passengers and even charge extra fare.

“We will no tolerate abusive and snobbish taxi drivers in Makati. Taxis are public utility vehicles and as such they must be fair in their dealings with the public,” Binay said in a press statement.

Operatives in plainclothes are deployed to conduct entrapment operations against abusive taxi drivers in Makati.

Moreover, enforcers of Department of Public Safety will be deployed at mall taxi stands of Shoemart, Landmark, Rustan’s, Glorietta 1 and 3 and public loading areas in Makati.

In a phone interview with Sherwin Cruz, data controller at Makati City Hall Command Center, passengers can report erring taxi drivers to the Command Center.

“When they call the Command Center, they must give the body number of the taxi and the plate number, which we will then report to the LTFRB,” Cruz said.

Penalties for violators include confiscation of licenses and issuance of Ordinance Violation Receipts with P1,000 fine.

For assistance, Cruz said passengers can call these numbers: 870-1920, 870-1923 and 870-1926.