General Info

Guys should note the following and print it out so you can have it for reference when some driver tries to scam you.

Beginning January 24 the LTFRB is calibrating and adjusting meters in Taxis for the new fares.

New Flag Down Fare is 40 PHP (up from of 30PHP)

New rate per 300 m is 3. 5 PHP (up from 2. 5 PHP)

First batch (until February 14th) of taxis will be only those with plate numbers ending in 1 and 6 on.

Note carefully that only taxis with meters that can issue receipts will be calibrated for the new fares.

All other Taxis (which have not been calibrated yet) are not allowed to charge the new fare and taxis with old meters that are not able to issue receipts will not be allowed to charge the new fares at all.

Taxis already calibrated will have a yellow LTFRB sticker on the left side of their windshields.

So those clapped.out taxis with the old meters will NEVER be able to charge the new rates. Don't believe them if they tell you they can.

NB. These rules may well be modified for taxis elsewhere in the Phils (Cebu and Davao)

[QUOTE=Tratnguyen1; 1115352]Gent;

I am planning a first trip to Angeles city and Manila. I hold a USA passport so I can travel to P. I. Without Visa for a short time staying.

The Question is the immigrations in Manila Airport accept the E ticket travel schedule as proof of my departure out P. I.

Also, the security guard will let me go through the airport door on the return trip.

Thank you in advance, [/QUOTE]The airline clerk in the US will ask you to show proof (your itinerary/E-ticket) of your flight out of the Philippines.

Immigration in the Philippines should not ask you to show them anything (except your passport and arrival card).

When you leave, the security guard at the airport will ask to see your flight itinerary/E-ticket to enter the airport.

Last September was in manila headed back to USA Had to pay a exit fee at the airport. I can't remember how much it was. Can anybody help me? For some reason I remember 750 peso, but not sure. Thanks in advance.

Manila, Philippines (CNN). A powerful bomb exploded on a passenger bus Tuesday afternoon in Manila's financial district, killing four people and injuring 15 others, police said.

"It's a huge explosion; it's so huge that it created a hole at the side of bus where it is presumed that the bomb was placed," said Makati Police Chief Froilan Bonifacio.

Bonifacio said the explosion occurred around 2 pm.

The bus, owned by Newman Bus Lines, was approaching a Metro Rail Transit station on Buendia Avenue in Makati City, Manila's financial district, when it blew up.

The area has been placed on high alert, according to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr, who arrived on the scene a short time after the blast. He said most of the victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

"We are still trying to determine what kind of bomb was used," Bonifacio said.

An initial investigation showed the explosive device could have been placed under a seat on the bus, he said.

[QUOTE=Mackin;1116250]Last September was in manila headed back to USA Had to pay a exit fee at the airport. I can't remember how much it was. Can anybody help me? For some reason I remember 750 peso, but not sure. Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]Mackin. You are correct 750p tax.

P

For whatever this is worth, all expats who work for us here are forbidden to take any form of mass public transit under any circumstances. This rule has been in effect, within my company, for more than 15 years. The fact is that violence can and does occur here anywhere, at any time given the large number of organized and semi-organized insurrectionist groups, whose actions are not always limited to remote, rural areas. As indicated by the prior poster, the violence can strike even in the heart of the country's richest enclave of wealth and power.

Avoiding mass transit, which is often the target of the fanatics who care nothing for human life is simply prudent.

GE.

[QUOTE=Devils 1; 1116276]Manila, Philippines (CNN). A powerful bomb exploded on a passenger bus Tuesday afternoon in Manila's financial district, killing four people and injuring 15 others, police said.

"It's a huge explosion; it's so huge that it created a hole at the side of bus where it is presumed that the bomb was placed," said Makati Police Chief Froilan Bonifacio.

Bonifacio said the explosion occurred around 2 pm.

The bus, owned by Newman Bus Lines, was approaching a Metro Rail Transit station on Buendia Avenue in Makati City, Manila's financial district, when it blew up.

The area has been placed on high alert, according to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr, who arrived on the scene a short time after the blast. He said most of the victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

"We are still trying to determine what kind of bomb was used," Bonifacio said.

An initial investigation showed the explosive device could have been placed under a seat on the bus, he said. [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=GreenBud;1116155]The airline clerk in the US will ask you to show proof (your itinerary/E-ticket) of your flight out of the Philippines.[/QUOTE]Correct:

[QUOTE]Immigration in the Philippines should not ask you to show them anything (except your passport and arrival card).[/QUOTE]Slightly WRONG. You must show your confirmed e-ticket / itin- for your return flight, as you are coming in as a tourist and you must show proof of departure in terms of a valid ticket. It is not a case of "Should" but any immigration officer in any country. While doing a visa-on-arrival, are legally required to check return flight / departure travel info.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough; 1116326]For whatever this is worth, all expats who work for us here are forbidden to take any form of mass public transit under any circumstances. This rule has been in effect, within my company, for more than 15 years. The fact is that violence can and does occur here anywhere, at any time given the large number of organized and semi-organized insurrectionist groups, whose actions are not always limited to remote, rural areas. As indicated by the prior poster, the violence can strike even in the heart of the country's richest enclave of wealth and power.

Avoiding mass transit, which is often the target of the fanatics who care nothing for human life is simply prudent.

GE. [/QUOTE]I agree with GE.

I have been watching this story on the news last night and again today.

The death toll is now 5.

One girl has both legs blown off.

Manila MRT and bus travellers are all very scared right now because there are tips of still more to come.

[QUOTE=Econo Tech;1116380]Slightly WRONG. You must show your confirmed e-ticket / itin- for your return flight, as you are coming in as a tourist and you must show proof of departure in terms of a valid ticket. It is not a case of "Should" but any immigration officer in any country. While doing a visa-on-arrival, are legally required to check return flight / departure travel info.[/QUOTE]I was talking about reality. That's why I wrote "should"; but technically they can demand proof; maybe if you look susupicious. Wondering how they treat the Africans.

In my numerous travels, I have never been asked to show a return ticket by Philippine immigration. Also never observed them asking anyone for a return ticket.

[QUOTE=GreenBud;1116411]I was talking about reality. That's why I wrote "should"; but technically they can demand proof; maybe if you look susupicious. Wondering how they treat the Africans.[/QUOTE]On a bad-hari day, they do that to everybody. . .[QUOTE]In my numerous travels, I have never been asked to show a return ticket by Philippine immigration. Also never observed them asking anyone for a return ticket.[/QUOTE]Yes, but Better safe than sorry.

Cheers

[QUOTE=GreenBud; 1116411]I was talking about reality. That's why I wrote "should"; but technically they can demand proof; maybe if you look susupicious. Wondering how they treat the Africans.

In my numerous travels, I have never been asked to show a return ticket by Philippine immigration. Also never observed them asking anyone for a return ticket. [/QUOTE]They asked me to show my return ticket when I went last December.

Good job I'd printed it, as I don; t normally do that.

[QUOTE=Steve Dubai; 1116423]They asked me to show my return ticket when I went last December.

Good job I'd printed it, as I don; t normally do that. [/QUOTE]I am a permanent resident here and in the past 12 months I have had 4 return flights back to the Philippines. At each departure (from Australia, from Incheon, from Bangkok and from Singapore back to Manila) I have been asked for my on-ticket out of Manila.
I can show my ICR Card to show that I have permission to stay and they are cool with that.

Maybe it is a bit arbitrary if some guys say they have never been asked, but by today's standards that is quite unusual. Just remember that the rules of international travel keep changing and I think it makes sense to have your return ticket with you. You might get a very rude (and expensive) surprise if you have to buy your ticket out of Manila at any international airport in order to catch your flight to Manila (or Cebu or Clark).

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1116395]I agree with GE.

Manila MRT and bus travellers are all very scared right now because there are tips of still more to come. [/QUOTE]I understand the fear that exists right now because intelligence reports are warning that there may be more attacks.

On the other hand, there's the logic of not allowing employees of GE's company to ride public transportation in the Philippines for the last 15 years?

Here is the apparent terrorism toll in Metro Manila since some time in 2002:

2002: a bomb goes off in a bus in Quezon City, killing 3 people.

2004: a bomb goes off on a ferry in Manila Bay, killing about 113.

2005: a bomb goes off in a bus in Makati, killing 3 people.

2007: a bomb goes off in Glorietta Mall (note: not public transit) , killing 11 people.

2011: a bomb goes off in a bus in Makati, killing 5 people.

In a single day in September 2001 two airplanes plow into and demolish the Twin Towers in New York City, killing approximately 2, 750 people. Current population of the metropolitan New York area is about 19. 7M. Population of Metro Manila is 16. 3M. So go ahead and do the math comparing the probabilities over the past ten years of being killed by terrorists on public transit in Manila as against being killed by terrorists in New York City.

Considering how few Filipino families own cars, there must be several million people who travel by bus, LRT, and jeepney in Metro Manila every day. So plug those numbers into the probabilities of being killed by terrorists on a mass transit vehicle in Metro Manila. And is there evidence of foreign nationals specifically being targeted by the Abu Sayyaf or other Philippine terrorists? In Zamboanga or the Sulu Archipelago, sure, because ransom rather than killing may be the goal. And, yes, about 12 years ago two American missionaries were abducted. But from an island resort near Puerto Princesa, and taken by boat to Western Mindanao. And one was killed -- during an assault by American and Philippine military forces.

Don't get me wrong. I'm upset about the bus bombing too. But I'm more pissed than frightened. I'm pissed because I was making arrangements to bring a group of young people to a safe area in Manila for a few weeks in 2012. But now I suspect my employer will give it the kibosh. Why? Because executives are risk-averse when it comes to decisions that hint of any kind of minimal liability. Do they have similar prohibitions against travel to New York City. Hell no. Why? Differences in perception. Because, after all, since 9/11 we've jacked up security and closed the opportunity gaps that terrorists have, right? BS! The underwear bomber was overtaken by other passengers, not because of airport security. And the would-be Times Square bomber was stopped, not because of heightened security capabilities, but because a streetside vendor told police he thought something looked suspicious. The police barely caught the guy before the international flight he'd gotten onto was about to take off.

So I understand GE's company's stance for avoiding any potential risk of liability, but as a logic for the average monger traveling in the Metro Manila area to need to avoid public transit? For the time being, sure, but in the longer term, I don't think so.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1116430]I am a permanent resident here and in the past 12 months I have had 4 return flights back to the Philippines. At each departure (from Australia, from Incheon, from Bangkok and from Singapore back to Manila) I have been asked for my on-ticket out of Manila.

I can show my ICR Card to show that I have permission to stay and they are cool with that.

Maybe it is a bit arbitrary if some guys say they have never been asked, but by today's standards that is quite unusual. Just remember that the rules of international travel keep changing and I think it makes sense to have your return ticket with you. You might get a very rude (and expensive) surprise if you have to buy your ticket out of Manila at any international airport in order to catch your flight to Manila (or Cebu or Clark).[/QUOTE]Cebu pacific air has given me the most grief about tickets. I understand they can be fined if they don't insure the.

Passenger has onward ticket.

I had the I card in Bangkok and they accepted that. But I always carry an onward out of Philippines ticket now.

Also if you travel with a filipina you need to show a return ticket for her.

Being from america I get spoiled that many times they just assume you will have the funds and the freedom to travel without restrictions.

[QUOTE=Steve Dubai; 1116423]They asked me to show my return ticket when I went last December.

Good job I'd printed it, as I don; t normally do that. [/QUOTE]Do you look African? . . (Nah- just taking a dig at the poster who said "should". "Maybe".