‘In today’s world, where reliable connectivity is essential, Globe is marketing a premium service but delivering subpar performance. This isn’t just poor service — it undermines consumer trust.’
YOU land at NAIA past 1 a.m., weary from a long-haul flight, expecting a semblance of order.
But the moment I stepped out of Customs, it felt more like I had been teleported straight to Divisoria. The scene? A swarm of “taxi barkers” aggressively offering rides:
“White taxi, sir?”
“Black taxi, ma’am?”
“Yellow taxi, sir?”
Welcome to Metro Manila’s airport!
Let’s break it down:
Yellow taxis are the airport’s official cabs — newer, metered, and pricier due to accreditation. Still, some drivers push for fixed rates, often targeting tourists.
White taxis are regular city cabs — often older and poorly maintained. Though required to use meters, many drivers at NAIA overcharge or refuse to use them, with little enforcement in place.
The “black taxis” are Joyride Super Taxis, a premium option.
Grab alongside the black taxis, the yellow taxis and the white taxis have exclusive access to the airport’s designated pickup zones.
Booked through InDrive or PeekUp — newer, more budget-friendly taxi apps? You’re on your own. No signs. No staff. Just a chaotic, disorganized scene to navigate solo.
It’s a mess. And it’s not just inconvenient — it’s a disservice to travelers. Poor OFWs, balikbayans, and tourists deserve better than this welcome party of confusion.
This isn’t a logistical oversight. It’s a policy failure. Who decides which companies get access to prime airport real estate — and at what cost to the commuting public? Is this about safety, or simply about who pays to play?
If the new NAIA management under SMC’s General Manager Boyet Alvarez is serious about implementing meaningful reform, this is the place to begin: restore order, enforce fairness, and improve the overall passenger experience.
One practical step GM Boyet Alvarez could take is to request the LTFRB, led by Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, to assign one or two personnel at the airport to oversee the operations of Grab, InDrive, PeekUp, Black Taxi (Joyride Super Taxi), Yellow Taxi and White Taxi.
These LTFRB personnel at NAIA could ensure that drivers consistently use their meters and adhere to regulated pricing — while also encouraging passengers to report their experiences after reaching their destinations, helping build accountability and transparency.
Then there’s the ₱25 “convenience fee” slapped by PayMaya on top of the travel tax at the TIEZA counter. Use a debit card, and you pay extra. No warning. No explanation. Just a quiet deduction.
TIEZA personnel at NAIA claim the fee was announced on Facebook. That’s it. No press release. No public consultation. No transparency on who got the payment gateway contract. Just a post.
Let’s do the math: over 15 million outbound travelers in 2024. Multiply that by ₱25, and you’re looking at nearly ₱400 million in additional revenue — collected without scrutiny.
TIEZA staff at NAIA advised me to direct any concerns regarding the P25 convenience fee levied by PayMaya to the Office of the TIEZA COO.
This isn’t about the amount. It’s about the principle. Public agencies handling public funds must be held to public standards. A Facebook post doesn’t cut it.
Transparency isn’t optional when public money is involved — it’s a constitutional mandate. TIEZA, under COO Mark Lapid, owes the public more than silence.
While traveling in Japan, I activated Globe’s data roaming service at ₱999 for 3GB. My companions chose the 10GB package for ₱1,999. Unfortunately, our experience was far from satisfactory — we encountered weak signals at best, and often had no data connection at all, even in a major city like Sapporo.
Globe’s response, under CEO Carl Raymond Cruz, was a generic message citing a “temporary enhancement issue.” There was no timeline for resolution and no sense of accountability.
We eventually switched to local eSIMs. For less than ₱320, we enjoyed five days of stable internet — no connectivity issues, no complications, and significantly more cost-effective.
A day after returning to Manila, I received this message from Globe:
“Your All-New Roam Surf 999 has ended. To keep enjoying the promo, register again via the GlobeOne app. For assistance, connect with us via the Help button in the app.”
In today’s world, where reliable connectivity is essential, Globe is marketing a premium service but delivering subpar performance. This isn’t just poor service — it undermines consumer trust.
What ties all of this together — the chaos at NAIA, the PayMaya fee, and Globe’s poor data roaming — is a pattern of misplaced priorities.
Systems meant to serve the public are instead serving entrenched interests, unchecked monopolies, and opaque contracts.
If we want better services, we must demand better governance. That means:
1. Equal access for all transport providers at NAIA.
2. Full transparency from TIEZA on every peso collected.
3. Real accountability from telcos like Globe.
Traveling shouldn’t feel like a gauntlet of confusion, hidden charges, and broken promises. We’re already paying for the privilege of leaving and returning to our own country. The least we deserve is clarity, fairness, and respect.
We don’t need VIP lounges. We need systems that work.
