CEBU CITY: Passengers are advised not to pay the PHP50 flag-down rate if the taxi they are riding has an uncalibrated meter, a transport official said Thursday. Eduardo Montealto Jr., regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7), emphasized that taxi drivers are not allowed to charge the new flag-down rate unless their meters have been properly calibrated. According to Philippines News Agency, the Board approved the increase of the flag-down rate from PHP45 to PHP50 three months ago. However, only about 25 percent of the over 6,000 taxi units in the region have submitted their meters for calibration. "Previously, the flag-down rate was a provisional PHP45 due to fluctuations in oil prices. It was only three months ago that we made the PHP50 increase permanent," Montealto explained. Taxi drivers who attempt to collect the new rate without having their meters recalibrated face fines of PHP5,000 for the first offense, PHP10,000 for the second, and P HP15,000 for the third offense with a 30-day impoundment of their vehicle. The increase in the flag-down rate was a response to a petition from taxi operators in June 2022, who sought to raise the rate from PHP40 to PHP60. The Board approved a PHP5 increase in September 2022, and after a reconsideration motion from taxi operators in October 2022, the rate was ultimately set at PHP50. The cost for calibrating taxi meters is PHP1,500.