One of the most popular modern amenities in the metropolis has been the shopping mall that provides shoppers as well as all persons from walks of life virtually all the goods and commodities along with a wide range of services under one roof and under a most comfortable condition and ambience. In this regard, SM Corporation, Robinsons, Ayala, Rustans, and the like have constructed a more numerous number of these huge shopping malls particularly in Metro-Manila.

Since these shopping malls are ideally situated along the more populous cities in Metro-Manila, they have been the favorite shopping and leisure destination by city dwellers and even those coming from the provinces every day especially during weekends where entire families regularly go to shop, eat out and avail of all kinds of services that cater to their needs.

However, it has been observed that during rush hours especially in the afternoons and closing hours, shoppers and plain mall goers who have no cars or who do not bring their cars usually encounter problems getting taxicabs from the malls to their respective residences during this period. Passengers find difficulty over a taxi which ventures in the area. And those that are available have the arrogance to choose and refuse helpless would-be passengers if their destinations are for long distances. This behavior of taxicab drivers have become a major complaint problem that DOTC has even launched œOplan Isnabero  to sanction the former.

Accordingly, this Board in response to public clamor for a taxicab service to specially serve Mall goers and those that are found therein, in coordination with the SM Corporation has decreed to create and open for applications for Certificates of Public Convenience a new kind of taxicab service to alleviate the plight of Mall goers during rush hours and closing time.

SPECIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Denomination: This taxi service shall be known or denominated as œMall Taxi  which shall be issued a Certificate of Public Convenience for the operation of a taxicab service to operate exclusively from the various SM Malls in Metro-Manila to their respective residences or drop-o ff points of passengers and vice-versa;

2. Malls to be served and number of units to be authorized: Since this is a pilot project of this Board, it will first cover SM Super Malls particularly the following:

a) SM Mega-Mall, Mandaluyong, MM;
b) SM City, along NORTH EDSA;
c) SM Fairview, at Fairview, Quezon City;
d) SM Mall of Asia, at Pasay City; etc.

Other Malls may be included as the need arises.

The number of mall taxi units that shall be authorized by the Board for each Mall shall be initially FIFTY (50) air conditioned units;

3. Color and Description: The œMall Taxi  that shall be authorized shall be colored metallic blue with indication in its body that it is a Mall Taxi specifying the particular Mall it is authorized to service. Other specifications shall be provided by the Board as may be needed for better identification and to maintain the standard design of a regular taxicab unit;

4. Fare - the œMall Taxi  shall have also the required taximeter and considering the exclusiveness of its service, the rates shall be higher than the regular taxi which shall be determined by the Board;

5. Limited Time Operations: The Mall Taxi shall operate every day from 10:00 am when the malls open up to 10:00PM when the malls close;

6. No picking and dropping of Passengers: The œMall Taxi  shall not pick and drop passengers on their way to the mall to which it is authorized to service;

7. Parking slots/ Taxi bay area at the Mall: The taxicab units shall be provided by the Mall management with respective parking slots and taxi bay area. Accordingly, applicant-Mall taxi operator shall notify the Mall Administrator or such person entrusted with such functions about the approval of their franchises or Certificates of Public Convenience to operate such mall taxicab service for parking slots allocations;

Applications for œMall Taxi  shall be accepted by the Board starting on February 16, 2009 up to June 30, 2009. The Board shall impose such other requirements for the application apart from the regular requisites for Certificates of Public Convenience.

This Memorandum Circular supersedes any and all issuances inconsistent herewith, and shall take effect fifteen (15) days following publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

SO ORDERED.

Adopted: 09 Feb. 2009

(SGD.) THOMPSON C. LANTION Chairman
(SGD.) GERARDO A. PINILI Board Member	(SGD.) MA. ELLEN DIRIGE-CABATU Board Member