[Second Opinion] End of the road for regular cabs?

by Gideon Lasco
Philippine Daily Inquirer

When President Duterte warned taxi drivers last year that not giving exact change to passengers amounted to estafa, he touched on one among a litany of grievances Filipinos have had about taxis. From getting turned down after flagging it down to having to fend off getting ripped off, just the thought of taking a cab can be stressful.

Of course, this is not to generalize; we are also occasionally regaled with tales of honest taxi drivers: In January, for example, Reggie Cabutotan of Baguio City returned a bag containing around P1 million to a very grateful Australian passenger. In this vein, I must commend the taxi drivers of Davao City, some of whom continue to give change down to the last peso.

Even so, many Filipinos have had negative experiences with taxis, which is why when Grab and Uber entered the market a few years ago, they had instant appeal. Simply put, these transport network companies (TNCs) took away the hailing and the haggling—that is, the hassle of getting a taxi.

What’s more, TNC drivers routinely use smartphone apps to come up with the fastest route to your exact destination, and having a nice car with good air-conditioning is a great bonus. Others also find their drivers more personable and professional—and narratives of these interactions can be found on Facebook. Finally, the more recent carpooling services (i.e., UberPool) make for more budget- and environment-friendly options.

But taxi operators weren’t amused, and formally protested their loss of income. They alleged that TNCs don’t pay taxes (a charge that the two companies vigorously denied), and blamed them for exacerbating the traffic in Metro Manila.

What taxi operators don’t realize, however, is they are losing business because of the aspects of quality transport in which they have failed, or which they have failed to offer. The thought of paying more than what one is supposed to, for instance, is generally annoying, no matter how cheap the actual and asking prices are. Competition (i.e., who provides the better services), and not the government, decides who wins.

***

As mobile internet access becomes more widespread, so will the popularity of Uber and Grab. For regular taxis to survive, they have to professionalize their workforce. The innovation of TNCs, after all, is not rethinking the role of the passengers, but that of the drivers, too: They generally earn more and have more control over their time—but they are also given a set of standards to follow, for which they are subject to passengers’ evaluation. Meanwhile, while taxi drivers are on the receiving end of our complaints, they are under psychological and financial pressure due to long working hours (some go for 24-hour runs) and the need to earn enough to make the “boundary.”

Regular taxis can also compete in areas where TNCs have weaknesses. For one, the waiting time is often understated: Two minutes can easily become 20—an excruciating wait if you’re running late. Because of their (over)dependence on technology, their services can go crazy when the internet connection goes awry. And there are times when they are too expensive, as when they do “surge pricing” during peak hours. If only taxis can offer a no-frills service with metered rates and good customer service, surely they will win (back) more passengers.

Ultimately, however, transport services—whether by regular taxis or TNCs—are only as good as the traffic situation, and while it’s better to be stuck in traffic in a nice car, you’re still stuck—and the predicament of how you can move from one place to another more efficiently remains. As urban planner Benjamin dela Peña has repeatedly pointed out, we have to think of transport not in terms of cars but of people; the long-term solution is not just better services or more roads, but mass transit and streets for walking and biking—all of which can complement one another.

And so while I will keep the ride-sharing apps in my smartphone, I will also hold out the hope that someday, there will be a faster, cheaper, and no less convenient alternative: public transport.

Originally published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on April 20, 2017: http://opinion.inquirer.net/103325/end-road-regular-cabs

Making the most of a delayed flight

By Gideon Lasco

The announcement airline passengers dread the most is that of a flight delay, and though its increasing occurrence has made it almost a given for frequent flyers, it can still be a frustrating experience.

"Attention all passengers: your flight is delayed due to late departure of turnaround aircraft." The announcer says. What a meaningless statement! It's like saying that “Our date in Makati is delayed due to my late departure from Los Baños.” There are no advance warnings, no details.

My worst experience was on a flight to Puerto Princesa just a few months ago. After a nap in what I thought would be a short and smooth late afternoon flight, I peered out the window and could already see the familiar outlines of the Palawan mountains, as well as the islands of Honda Bay.

We were just about to land when suddenly the plane pulled up then turned around! After a dreadful few minutes of silence - enough time to entertain thoughts like “Are we being hijacked?” - the captain made an announcement that the because of the tailwinds it wasn't safe to land, and also mentioned the lack of lights in the runway. It wasn't very convincing - why did he attempt to fly in the first place?

After the hour-long return to Manila, the flight attendant merely parroted her “welcome you to Manila!” spiel, as if it were our destination! The passengers  - offered neither nor lodging nor compensation - applauded such tactlessness out of sarcasm, but the flight attendant, undeterred, kept smiling and uttering more perfunctory phrases before finally apologising for the cancellation.

***

Negative energies, like any strong emotions, can get us carried away. Given the systemic problems our airports face, however, it is in vain to get mad at a flight attendant. It is also probably unwise to declare "I'm never gonna fly with this airline again!”: Given the limited choices in the Philippines, you might swallow your words soon. The fact is that our airports are operating at a level way beyond their capacity, and all the airlines suffer from delays. Only a major overhaul can fix this - and it wont be happening anytime soon.

But what can we do as individual passengers stuck in an airport? As annoying as a flight delay is, it can actually be a very productive time, to work, to learn, and to connect with your loved ones.

Bringing a book is always a great idea. When was the last time you actually read a book? The flight delays can make even Dostoyevsky readable - unless you prefer observing the young people take selfies. E-books, of course, can also suffice, but for flights I prefer the printed book, which doesn’t ran out of battery, and doesn’t get the flight attendants mad during take-off and landing.

Being inside the airport also puts you in a box that is actually conducive to working. Since there is nothing else to do, you can concentrate more on tasks like unfinished reports and assignments. Also, rather than stare at the "Delayed" status of your flight, you can choose to attend to long-delayed tasks, like responding to forgotten emails text messages. Or call your parents and grandparents - maybe even your high school classmates! Think of all people you've been meaning to call or email, but haven't really done so in a while.

One thing that makes a flight delay especially stressful is if you have scheduled something immediately after it. Here, I can offer some practical tips. The earlier in the day the flight, the less likely it will get delayed. During the peak holiday seasons of summer and Christmas, expect even longer delays.

Afternoon flights to certain airports, such as Caticlan and Cagayan de Oro, are particularly risky. The "delayed flight due to sunset limitation" speaks of another problem: the lack of equipment in our smaller airports.

There are lucky days, as when the flight is smooth and when your baggage miraculously appears first in the carousel. As a mountaineer, I consider it especially auspicious when I see the mountains from the air: as the flight takes off from Manila, Pico de Loro, Batulao, Makiling, Banahaw.

But you better be prepared for when things go wrong. On that aborted flight to Puerto Princesa, my seatmates had booked a cruise to Coron that same night and they were understandably mollified at cancellation, which has irrevocably altered the course of their vacation. Another crestfallen face was that of a father who had just missed his son's birthday.

Their images tell us: People's lives and daily schedules matter. We do not care about dancing flight attendants - or fun games. The minimum airlines could do is to honor their commitment, and the minimum the airports can do is to allow airlines to do so. Surely, paying passengers have the right to demand as much. The airport is the first impression of a country, and if the government seriously want to make it "more fun in the Philippines", the airport is the place to start.

***

Finally, the boarding announcement! "You may now board the aircraft at Gate no. 118" A collective sigh of relief fills the air, and people are stirred from their seats.

As you may have guessed, I am writing this piece in the middle of a flight delay. As a consolation, I found one of the rare functioning sockets in the terminal. Two and a half hours was more than enough to write this article, charge my laptop, and do other things besides.

The queue of passengers fills up, and they make a second announcement. I guess it's time for me to stand up and fall in line. But I will not be in a hurry.

NAIA Terminal 3
August 7, 2015