By: Vanessa Bugtong
A luxury SUV-turned-taxi has become the latest online sensation in Baguio City, leaving locals both surprised and impressed.
To many, the sight of a sleek, spotless, high-end vehicle on the road is nothing new, but it’s not every day you see one with a taxi meter and a top light.
“It’s kinda a starstruck moment,” said Earl Macario, a local car enthusiast. “It already went viral on Facebook. It’s cool that we now have new types of taxis in Baguio.”
He added, “I think it’s more convenient especially for passengers carrying big luggage. It makes sense to have bigger taxis.”
Behind the wheel of this viral ride is 52-year-old Fernando Miller Jr., a veteran taxi driver who has been operating in the city for more than two decades.
He used to drive a Crosswind-type taxi, but over time, it began to break down.
Rather than repair it, he sold the vehicle and put the money toward a new one.
“It would’ve cost me more to fix everything, so I decided to sell it and use the money to buy a new unit,” Miller explained.
Ironically, the Montero wasn’t his first choice.
“I originally planned to buy an Innova,” he said. “But it was out of stock. This was the only available model suited for the terrain here. Plus, I also use it for trips to our province where the roads are rough.”
He bought the vehicle on May 24 and registered it as a taxi by June 2.
Despite the buzz it has created online, Miller confirmed the SUV passed all the necessary requirements for public transport use.
“I even asked Mitsubishi first if the Montero could be used as a taxi,” he said. “When I registered it, the authorities really inspected everything because by then it was already trending.”
In just under two weeks on the road, the Montero taxi has turned heads on every corner.
But with greater looks comes greater expenses.
“It’s not cheap to run, especially with the price of fuel,” Miller admitted.
Still, he assures passengers they won’t be overcharged. “The flag-down rate is still fifty pesos,” he said.
So next time you hail a taxi in Baguio, don’t be surprised if your ride turns out to be a luxury SUV.
