Taxi From The Airport: CEB etc
Like in Manila, you can’t hail a cab at the arrivals area. Why? Still like in Manila, taxis are not allowed to go there! Why? Ah go ask any of your bright government authorities who are all politicians – meaning “public servants” during the election campaign, but quickly turn into self-appointed monarchs the day after they’re elected!
Anyway, here are the options:
1) From the international luggage claim area, you should see a hallway to your right that connects to the domestic arrivals hall. Head there instead of going out to the international arrivals foyer. You will see an elevator on the right and hop in with your baggage cart. You are supposed to take this route if from your international flight you are connecting to a domestic flight that departs from this airport on the same day. Since arrivals is ground level, of course your elevator brings you up to the ‘next and only’ level which is the departure area. Upon emerging from the elevator (you are at departure level) going left is the international departures hall and going right is the domestic departures hall. Head right of course and out into the departure area curbside. Why? Cab drivers’ eyes are less likely to see $$$ if you are standing in front of the domestic wing of this building!
2) From the domestic luggage claim area, you will see the same hallway mentioned above, this time to your left. It is also the same route you go if you came from a domestic flight and connecting to another domestic flight (or even an international flight) that departs from this airport on the same day. So go up, head right to the domestic departures wing and left going out into the departure area curbside.
In both options above, you will realize the departures area curbside is ALSO at ground level! How did that happen? Well, the area immediately across the main building of this airport is actually a little hill where they carved the way going down to tarmac level (arrivals area). So technically, from the point of view of the departure curbside, the arrivals area is a basement. But if you use the runway as your point of reference, the departure area is second floor!
Ok now, what if you don’t wanna go up via those elevators? Or what if they’re not working and/or what if you are not allowed to? [because yes, there is no telling what these government people can think of next]. The technique is just to go out and emerge past those throngs of people waiting at the arrivals foyer. Cross the driveway and you hit a wall there you will see a flight of stairs at the edge of that wall or a rampway that leads up to the departure area. Depending on the amount of luggage that you must drag along, go up on any of those and you will be at the departure area curbside in no time. Hint: Cebu Taxis as in Manila are metered and lately, seldom will they haggle or negotiate for a flat fee if your ride will be just within the metropolis. I think that’s a good sign.
DVO
Hailing a cab upon arrival at the Davao International Airport is a bit more straightforward. After luggage claim, you exit the arrivals hall and you are confronted by a crowd of thugs inviting you to take their taxi. Don’t bother. Just walk straight crossing the driveway unto another driveway (of the parking lot) where the metered cabs drop and pick passengers. There are traffic policemen always stationed at this area so you can seek help if necessary.
There is an “occasional” catch though! When flights arrive within minutes of each other, and passengers emerge almost simultaneously out of the airport, them taxis are easily all taken and it will take you a bit more time to get yours! This happened to me when my flight came late while another flight just landed also late some minutes ahead of us and yet another flight landed on schedule! If this happens though, you have the option to walk up to the highway which is about 200 or so meters away – but don’t do this at night or the early morning darkness.
PPS
From the Puerto Princesa airport, don’t look for a cab, there is none! Just walk past the throng of people waiting for their passengers. The exit area is to your right and just beyond the barricades. There are tricycles for hire there and their drivers will be in a scrimmage to get you! They charge you more than the usual. If that is a problem, you can walk past them and the parked vehicles emerging at the highway which is no more than 50 meters from the building anyway. There the tricycles will charge you the correct fares.
Oh and by the way, upon exiting from the arrivals area, notice that big tarpauline directory to your right. Its not just another directory! It is a listing of tricycle fares from anywhere to everywhere in Puerto Princesa. You’d wish every town and city in this country should have that.
But why the presence of overcharging tricycle drivers inside the airport premises? Well, I have yet to know!
ILO, CGY
From the present Iloilo airport, you also just walk beyond the throngs of people and the taxi drivers will be in a mad scramble to get you. Here it is a bit unorganized so use your haggling and bargaining skills – first, to make sure they use their meters; second, if they won’t use their meters, to give you an acceptable price. Oh there is a new International Airport being constructed somewhere else in that city, so let’s hope it will be better there! It’s the same thing/scene in Cagayan De Oro’s Lumbia airport. And yes, they also have a new airport being built!
KLO and many others
In Kalibo, it is similar to Puerto Princesa. Tricycles are the main mode of transportation. But they will charge a bit higher if you come from the airport. So ask before you ride. It’s the same thing arriving at Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga, Legaspi, Naga, Virac, Catarman, Calbayog, Laoag, etc etc. Be wary though in Tacloban. The airport is in San Jose and your tricycle ride will be very long and expensive. Hop into the Jeeps instead. But I don’t know why people and authorities there don’t bother why you coming from the airport as passenger will be charged a different fare by the jeep driver, than the person beside you who either lives near the airport or an employee of one of the mini-restaurants in the vicinity! Try protesting, no one will be on your side! Why?
RXS
In Roxas City, well tricycles are also the main event of the road. But I was just probably lucky since the 3 times I took tricycles beyond the parking lot and near the circular edifice (is it a monument or a flagpole?), they charged me the normal city fares. Of course, I still asked before I took a ride
BCD
Ah in Bacolod, taking a cab is a chapter from all other airports. You emerge from the arrivals area with the usual throngs of people and a lot of porters (more than you see anywhere else). But when you’re past them and walking the parking area that is the façade of the airport, no one bothers about you. Cabs are lined just outside the exit fence. There are always a good number of them parked there. The difference is they won’t run and push or out-shout each other to get you. They’ll just look at you as if you were some kind of actor or politician passing by. If you do beckon on any of them, they’ll oblige and you have your metered taxi ride to wherever.
But this is what I do. Just walk past them “resting taxicabs” and cross the street to the mall then wait for a cab there. Note that this position is actually directly across those cabs. I do wait for passing taxis from the left (is it Bago City) heading to the right (Bacolod City center) and flag them. But when my impatience attacks, or when one of those “resting taxicabs” seem to have pity on me, I wave for one of them or they’ll actually get me! Its always a win-win event here!
Of course I got curious about this very unlikely scene at an airport where the cab drivers don’t come running to grab you. Their attitude towards seem to border between an observant predator and an apathetic by-stander. I learned from friends in the city that it is a cultural trait from the Hispanized past of this city where the grand haciendas abound. Let’s tell you some bits of them here:
First, the “too many baggage porters” at the arrival area. I learned that the Negrense people will generally look for that kind of assistance even for as light as a backpack or as cumbersome as a tote bag and a golf umbrella! Vestiges of the past! Sosyal sila! They’ll give their luggage claim stubs to their favorite porters and head straight to their air-conditioned cars and wait there. O di ba?!
Now the “apathetic” taxi drivers. No they’re not really apathetic, I learned. In fact, they’re very much out to get you or anyone else for a passenger. But social norms in this place dictate that you don’t run out into anyone and hassle them to offer your service. The “muchachos y muchachas” of the past were never allowed to do that. They must wait to be called on by the Don, Doña, Señor, Señora, Señorito or the Señorita. So that explains it! No wonder they just look at you and come running when you called any of them cabs! Oh Bacolod!
Anyway, here are the options:
1) From the international luggage claim area, you should see a hallway to your right that connects to the domestic arrivals hall. Head there instead of going out to the international arrivals foyer. You will see an elevator on the right and hop in with your baggage cart. You are supposed to take this route if from your international flight you are connecting to a domestic flight that departs from this airport on the same day. Since arrivals is ground level, of course your elevator brings you up to the ‘next and only’ level which is the departure area. Upon emerging from the elevator (you are at departure level) going left is the international departures hall and going right is the domestic departures hall. Head right of course and out into the departure area curbside. Why? Cab drivers’ eyes are less likely to see $$$ if you are standing in front of the domestic wing of this building!
2) From the domestic luggage claim area, you will see the same hallway mentioned above, this time to your left. It is also the same route you go if you came from a domestic flight and connecting to another domestic flight (or even an international flight) that departs from this airport on the same day. So go up, head right to the domestic departures wing and left going out into the departure area curbside.
In both options above, you will realize the departures area curbside is ALSO at ground level! How did that happen? Well, the area immediately across the main building of this airport is actually a little hill where they carved the way going down to tarmac level (arrivals area). So technically, from the point of view of the departure curbside, the arrivals area is a basement. But if you use the runway as your point of reference, the departure area is second floor!
Ok now, what if you don’t wanna go up via those elevators? Or what if they’re not working and/or what if you are not allowed to? [because yes, there is no telling what these government people can think of next]. The technique is just to go out and emerge past those throngs of people waiting at the arrivals foyer. Cross the driveway and you hit a wall there you will see a flight of stairs at the edge of that wall or a rampway that leads up to the departure area. Depending on the amount of luggage that you must drag along, go up on any of those and you will be at the departure area curbside in no time. Hint: Cebu Taxis as in Manila are metered and lately, seldom will they haggle or negotiate for a flat fee if your ride will be just within the metropolis. I think that’s a good sign.
DVO
Hailing a cab upon arrival at the Davao International Airport is a bit more straightforward. After luggage claim, you exit the arrivals hall and you are confronted by a crowd of thugs inviting you to take their taxi. Don’t bother. Just walk straight crossing the driveway unto another driveway (of the parking lot) where the metered cabs drop and pick passengers. There are traffic policemen always stationed at this area so you can seek help if necessary.
There is an “occasional” catch though! When flights arrive within minutes of each other, and passengers emerge almost simultaneously out of the airport, them taxis are easily all taken and it will take you a bit more time to get yours! This happened to me when my flight came late while another flight just landed also late some minutes ahead of us and yet another flight landed on schedule! If this happens though, you have the option to walk up to the highway which is about 200 or so meters away – but don’t do this at night or the early morning darkness.
PPS
From the Puerto Princesa airport, don’t look for a cab, there is none! Just walk past the throng of people waiting for their passengers. The exit area is to your right and just beyond the barricades. There are tricycles for hire there and their drivers will be in a scrimmage to get you! They charge you more than the usual. If that is a problem, you can walk past them and the parked vehicles emerging at the highway which is no more than 50 meters from the building anyway. There the tricycles will charge you the correct fares.
Oh and by the way, upon exiting from the arrivals area, notice that big tarpauline directory to your right. Its not just another directory! It is a listing of tricycle fares from anywhere to everywhere in Puerto Princesa. You’d wish every town and city in this country should have that.
But why the presence of overcharging tricycle drivers inside the airport premises? Well, I have yet to know!
ILO, CGY
From the present Iloilo airport, you also just walk beyond the throngs of people and the taxi drivers will be in a mad scramble to get you. Here it is a bit unorganized so use your haggling and bargaining skills – first, to make sure they use their meters; second, if they won’t use their meters, to give you an acceptable price. Oh there is a new International Airport being constructed somewhere else in that city, so let’s hope it will be better there! It’s the same thing/scene in Cagayan De Oro’s Lumbia airport. And yes, they also have a new airport being built!
KLO and many others
In Kalibo, it is similar to Puerto Princesa. Tricycles are the main mode of transportation. But they will charge a bit higher if you come from the airport. So ask before you ride. It’s the same thing arriving at Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga, Legaspi, Naga, Virac, Catarman, Calbayog, Laoag, etc etc. Be wary though in Tacloban. The airport is in San Jose and your tricycle ride will be very long and expensive. Hop into the Jeeps instead. But I don’t know why people and authorities there don’t bother why you coming from the airport as passenger will be charged a different fare by the jeep driver, than the person beside you who either lives near the airport or an employee of one of the mini-restaurants in the vicinity! Try protesting, no one will be on your side! Why?
RXS
In Roxas City, well tricycles are also the main event of the road. But I was just probably lucky since the 3 times I took tricycles beyond the parking lot and near the circular edifice (is it a monument or a flagpole?), they charged me the normal city fares. Of course, I still asked before I took a ride
BCD
Ah in Bacolod, taking a cab is a chapter from all other airports. You emerge from the arrivals area with the usual throngs of people and a lot of porters (more than you see anywhere else). But when you’re past them and walking the parking area that is the façade of the airport, no one bothers about you. Cabs are lined just outside the exit fence. There are always a good number of them parked there. The difference is they won’t run and push or out-shout each other to get you. They’ll just look at you as if you were some kind of actor or politician passing by. If you do beckon on any of them, they’ll oblige and you have your metered taxi ride to wherever.
But this is what I do. Just walk past them “resting taxicabs” and cross the street to the mall then wait for a cab there. Note that this position is actually directly across those cabs. I do wait for passing taxis from the left (is it Bago City) heading to the right (Bacolod City center) and flag them. But when my impatience attacks, or when one of those “resting taxicabs” seem to have pity on me, I wave for one of them or they’ll actually get me! Its always a win-win event here!
Of course I got curious about this very unlikely scene at an airport where the cab drivers don’t come running to grab you. Their attitude towards seem to border between an observant predator and an apathetic by-stander. I learned from friends in the city that it is a cultural trait from the Hispanized past of this city where the grand haciendas abound. Let’s tell you some bits of them here:
First, the “too many baggage porters” at the arrival area. I learned that the Negrense people will generally look for that kind of assistance even for as light as a backpack or as cumbersome as a tote bag and a golf umbrella! Vestiges of the past! Sosyal sila! They’ll give their luggage claim stubs to their favorite porters and head straight to their air-conditioned cars and wait there. O di ba?!
Now the “apathetic” taxi drivers. No they’re not really apathetic, I learned. In fact, they’re very much out to get you or anyone else for a passenger. But social norms in this place dictate that you don’t run out into anyone and hassle them to offer your service. The “muchachos y muchachas” of the past were never allowed to do that. They must wait to be called on by the Don, Doña, Señor, Señora, Señorito or the Señorita. So that explains it! No wonder they just look at you and come running when you called any of them cabs! Oh Bacolod!
"First, the “too many baggage porters” at the arrival area. I learned that the Negrense people will generally look for that kind of assistance even for as light as a backpack or as cumbersome as a tote bag and a golf umbrella! Vestiges of the past! Sosyal sila! They’ll give their luggage claim stubs to their favorite porters and head straight to their air-conditioned cars and wait there. O di ba?!"
ReplyDeletethat's very true. almost all of the middle to upper crust has a suki porter who will bring the big boxes and luggages to the cars. when i was still living in bacolod, we had this routine too. our porter is named Kiting and everytime we arrive, we look for him and bahala na sya... and it's obligatory to give him courtesy fee/pasalubong fee of usually P50-100 depending on your state of mind.
On the whole, that's what i liked about bacolod. there's no hassling for rides, rare kotong cops, no taxi negotiations... hence, stress-free vacation! (this is one of the things that makes life in bacolod blissful.)
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