MANILA - The increase in the flag down rate and the per-kilometer charge of taxis may encourage these drivers to improve their services, a commuter group said Friday.

The fare adjustment has long been a clamor by the taxi drivers because fuel prices have bloated since the last increase in 2008, said Maricor Akol, president of the National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection.

"As a commuter, of course, masasaktan ang bulsa namin, kaya lang ang (iniisip) namin dito, siguro naman with this increase na kanilang hinihingi, mag-i-improve na ang kanilang serbisyo, hindi na sila magre-refuse ng (pasahero) during the traffic," she told radio DZMM.

"Saka hinihikayat namin na sana naman, gagayahin nila dahil may competition na sila sa Grab at Uber, they will improve yung kanilang serbisyo at sana yung kanilang aircon ay tama, maayos at yung mga driver ay mas magalang at hindi na gaya dati na nagre-refuse ng mga rides sa mga commuter," she said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Wednesday said they decided to pin the flag down rate to P40 and set a P13.50 charge per additional kilometer and P2 per minute of travel time.

Akol said the busy Christmas season will also test taxi performances' improvement.

"Pagbigyan natin sila ngayong (season). Kung sila ay still abusado, siguro there’s competition. Hindi lang sila ang nasa kalye. Baka yung mga tao ay pupunta na sa technology-based vehicle system," she said.

"Pag-compute mo, I think it’s about the same na ngayon, pero let’s wait and see. Pagbigyan muna natin kasi medyo matagal na bago sila na-adjust at alam namin na meron naman ginamit na formula ang LTFRB para makuha yang rate na yan," she added.

Akol encouraged passengers who may have negative experiences with taxi drivers to forward their concerns to the LTFRB.