How to Report Erring Public Utility Drivers


Do you want to report irresponsible, abusive, reckless or erring public utility drivers? Find out where and what violations you can report to, steps to take, actions you can expect after reporting and how to follow up on it.

Where can you report erring public utility drivers?

You can report them to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). 

The LTFRB is a sectoral agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) which is mandated under the law to regulate land-based public transportation and to safeguard the welfare and interests of the commuting public. The agency is responsible for promulgating, administering, enforcing, and monitoring compliance of policies, laws, and regulations of public land transportation services.

What types of violations can I report to LTFRB?

You can report any of the following violations to LTFRB:

1. Choosing passengers
2. Cutting trip
3. Discriminating against Persons with disabilities (PWDs)
4. Dilapidated unit
5. Dirty seats and interiors
6. No flag down of meter
7. No meter
8. No receipt
9. No seatbelts
10. No taxi details inside
11. Non-compliance with traffic regulations
12. Not giving exact change
13. Out of line operation
14. Overcharging/ undercharging
15. Physical assault
16. Reckless driving
17. Refusal to grant a discount
18. Refusal to board or convey
19. Rude behavior
20. Sexual assault/ Verbal harassment
21. Smelly interiors
22. Smoking while driving
23. Tampered or broken meter
24. Texting while driving

These are the common violations that the LTFRB receives. However, if you encounter other violations involving drivers of public land transportation vehicles, condition, and state of public vehicle units and other public land transportation-related complaints, you can still report it to them for verification if the same is within their authority to address.


How can you report your complaint to the LTFRB?

To report, you can simply text 09214487777, call hotline 1342 or Public Assistance & Complaints Desk Nos. 426-2515 and 426-2534, email complaint.ltfrb.gov.ph@gmail.com with the following details:

1. Plate number of the vehicle
2. Type of denomination (taxi, bus, jeepney, school service, tourist transport, UV Express, GRAB, etc.)
3. Violation
4. Incident date, time and location

What action can I expect after reporting the incident to LTFRB

Initially, the LTFRB will verify your report, thereafter succeeding actions will be determined depending on the nature of the violation. There are cases, however, that you will be required to attend a hearing in their office particularly when your official testimony is needed such as in cases of rude drivers, overcharging, verbal harassment or sexual assault or when the report is not readily verifiable by LTFRB alone. 

With regard to complaints where the LTFRB can carry out the investigation even without your assistance (ex. dilapidated units, no taxi details, no meter, etc), the report will be acted upon accordingly. If the LTFRB, upon investigation, has proven that violations against the franchise agreement have been committed the franchise holder may be asked to pay fine, have his franchise suspended or canceled completely depending on the gravity of the violation.

What will happen to your complaint if you refuse to attend the hearing?

If your complaint requires a hearing and you refuse to attend, the LTFRB can only inform and ask the operator for an explanation regarding your complaint considering that they cannot charge the driver or operator without a verified complaint or by denying the former of due process.

Will the public utility driver be stripped off his license to drive if your complaint is proven?

The authority of LTFRB is limited to issues covered by the granting of Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) or franchise; issuance and revocation of driver’s license is within the mandate of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), hence, verified complaints against erring drivers received by LTFRB is forwarded to LTO with recommendations for revocation of license.

How to follow-up the action taken on your complaint?

To follow-up, text 09214487777, call 426-2515/426-3534 or email complaint.ltfrb.gov.ph@gmail.com, just include in your message the nature of your previous complaint and the date when you reported it.

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