FARE FLAP: P50 add-on on taxis, ride-hailing cars at Iloilo Airport under scrutiny

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A PHP 50 fee added on top of metered taxi fares or ride-hailing app rates for arriving passengers at Iloilo International Airport is drawing public scrutiny amid complaints of unclear rules and a lack of transparency.

A Facebook post questioning the additional charge sparked online discussion, with netizens asking whether the practice has become “normal” at the airport.

In the post, the author recounted being told to pay “metered plus PHP50” when taking a taxi and later encountering the same add-on — described as a “toll fee” — when switching to a ride-hailing service at the airport’s designated pickup area.

While the post stressed that the issue was not the PHP50 itself, it pointed to a lack of transparency, saying extra charges were explained verbally and only after passengers had boarded, with no clear signage or official advisory.

“For visitors, especially first-time travelers, it feels confusing and uncomfortable. The issue is not the PHP50. The issue is transparency,” the author said.

The post quickly gained traction, drawing mixed reactions from netizens, with some sharing similar experiences and others urging authorities and transport operators to disclose any airport-related fees upfront.

“Tourists expect the meter to be the meter, and the app to show the full fare. When extra charges are added verbally, without clear signage or official explanation, it leaves a poor first impression,” the Facebook post said.

“Iloilo has built a reputation as a kind, honest, and welcoming city. Indi tani amo sini. Small practices like this quietly weaken that image,” it added.

At the airport, GrabCar units are prohibited from picking up passengers at the arrival area and are only allowed to do so inside the parking area, with the pickup point near the Iloilo Airport Canteen.

GrabCar drivers interviewed by Daily Guardian said they are charged PHP 50 upon entering the parking area, a fee that covers the first two hours of parking.

Drivers said they must pay upon entry and secure an exit pass after picking up passengers.

One driver said the PHP 50 is considered by airport management as a “gate or toll fee.”

Drivers also said the PHP 50 charge is an internal airport directive communicated to Grab drivers, not a formal agreement between the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Iloilo and Grab.

GrabCar drivers said they may pass the PHP 50 to passengers, but it is technically optional.

Many drivers said they charge it to avoid losses, adding that airport trips can have low net earnings.

Some drivers with CAAP-accredited units and airport “stickers” said the fee used to be waived, but a policy implemented weeks ago removed the exemption.

They said the change compelled them to pass the cost to passengers to avoid losses.

Daily Guardian could not independently confirm whether the same PHP 50 fee is also imposed by taxi operators.

However, taxis traveling to the airport are not allowed to pick up passengers unless they have a CAAP-issued sticker or permit.

The Association of Taxi Operators in Panay, which manages taxi operations at Iloilo International Airport, oversees 200 to 250 taxi units at the airport, a number capped due to limited parking space, according to the group.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, who also chairs the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council VI, said the reported add-ons should be investigated.

She said she has coordinated with Grab and the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay, and that a formal meeting is scheduled next week.

She said CAAP and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will also be invited to clarify the issue and lay out concrete actions.

“We will ensure that this issue is addressed decisively, with clear accountability and corrective measures to public and the reputation of Iloilo,” she said.