We’ve been living back here for 12 years now. Have been traveling before all over Mindanao and other parts of the country. We noticed before that Davao has the worst taxis that I knew. If you guys travel here in Davao City, you will remember some of the old and junkie looking taxis we have here in the city before. But you just have to ride on it because we just have no choices unless you have your own vehicle. I remembered the taxi driver would say that sorry ma’am just go to the other side to enter or get out because the handle just fell off. Most of the taxis at that time were all surplus from Korea or Japan. Lots of it they converted from the right side driving to the left. Some of it the wiring’s were visible.
New Davao Taxis
One time I was riding the taxi with a friend that came here for a visit. Man, she was so scared to enter the taxi seeing how bad looking it was inside. My friend said wow, I’ve never been to this kind of taxi before and its pretty filthy. She had no choice but to ride in it, unless we would walk from the house to SM. I could tell the relief on her face when we got to our destination. But at that time we also had some descent taxi though, but it’s just limited (just few were running).
I remembered like around 7 years ago the city had a big conference and the invited guests were from all over the world. Being the taxis were not looking good and look so old, the city rented a bunch of taxis from Cagayan de Oro just to cater to those guests. Started at the time the city maintained quite well on the cleanliness here. I mean even the Bankerohan Market at that time was really cleaned. People that I met and knew at that time were really impressed. They started planting bunch of flowers on the pathway in between the main road. They still are good until now. And improving some other areas too with nice planter boxes.
New Mabuhay Black Taxi
Over the past 3 to 4 years the taxi situation is improving here. The city told the owners of the taxis that all non air-conditioning taxis will be eliminated. They want all air conditioned taxis running around the city. The Mabuhay and Holiday already had units that’s going around the city. Finally in a year or 2 after the city told them all the non-air taxis were gone. That’s when the Blue taxis were born, they really are nice and clean looking taxis. Then another one the Orange taxis were here now too. Another company owned a taxi. It’s white taxi and they had plenty of them. They had there hub near the San Rafael area. Some were even parking at the shoulder of the highway. I think they are still building for a bigger hub. A month or 2 ago Bob was telling me about a Black taxi, that they will be coming here to Davao city. That they are going to be a nice and good looking taxi. Finally yesterday I saw one passing by when I was waiting for a jeepney. I was shocked, it really is looking neat and nice. I haven’t ridden to one of them yet. I will try to ride one of this day and tell you guys what I think.
Been shocked to some of the taxis that I’ve been riding here. They even have TV inside the taxi. Only bad thing the driver was just showing boxing game inside. Ha ha ha, I was thinking of home and garden show. lol. Kidding aside the taxis here now really look good and clean. I’m so happy for that, and you don’t have to fight now to get a taxi. We have plenty now going around the city. Now I can say that taxis here can compare to the taxis of the other cities in the Philippines. We even have a few SUV’s type kind of taxis.
Feel free to share what you think. Have a good and enjoyable visit here in the Philippines!
Mabuhay!