MANILA, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe on Monday urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to consider lifting its ban on transport network vehicle services (TNVS) units that have failed to comply with application requirements.
Poe made the call as ride-hailing app drivers went offline on Monday (July 8) to protest the agency’s ‘inconsistent’ policies and phase out of hatchback cars.
READ: Ride-hailing app drivers go offline Monday against phase out of ‘hatchbacks’
Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said the LTFRB already promised in its Memorandum Circular 2018-005 in February that it will allow existing hatchbacks to continue operating for three more years to recoup their investment.
“Siguro ay dapat rin nating malaman kung bakit napagdesisyunan ng LTFRB na hindi sundin ang sarili nilang circular,” the senator said in a statement.
(Maybe it’s time we find out why the LTFRB decided not to follow its own circular.)
“Hindi pwedeng paiba-iba ang ipinatutupad na regulasyon. Hindi ito patas sa mga mananakay at sa mga namumuhunan,” she added.
(The regulations should not be inconsistent. This is not fair to the passengers and investors.)
Poe further said that while LTFRB’s mandate to regulate the industry and ensure the safety of the riding public should be respected, calls to make the process easier according to the Ease of Doing Business Act should also be recognized.
“Matagal na nating kinilala ang kakayanan ng industriyang ito na tugunan ang kakulangan ng maayos na transportasyon sa kalakhang Maynila. Bakit natin kailangang pahirapan ang lahat?”
(We have long recognized this industry’s capacity to fill the gap of mass transportation in Metro Manila. Why do we need to make everyone suffer?)
The TNVS community in Metro Manila earlier said the transport holiday on Monday is to protest the difficult policies of the LTFRB in securing provisional authority and certificate of public convenience.
Although the drivers’ move inconvenienced many ride-hailing app users, Poe said the transport holiday is an opportunity for a negotiation between the LTFRB and the TNVS groups.
The agency earlier announced the conduct of a dialogue on Tuesday (July 9) to discuss the groups’ grievances.
“While the parties are on the table, we hope that the LTFRB can consider lifting the deactivation on those who failed to comply with the requirements,” Poe said.
The senator, meanwhile, revealed that bills seeking to put in place a law governing TNVS operations will continue to be discussed in the Senate.
“These include the re-filing of our bill from last Congress which proposes that only Transport Network Companies (such as Grab) will be directly regulated by the LTFRB. TNVS will only be one of several bills in the overarching ‘inclusive transportation’ agenda,” she said.
Poe added that bills seeking for the establishment of alternative modes of transportation will also be pushed in the 18th Congress.
“Other bills which we will file include the establishment of bicycle lanes, elevated walkways, and other alternative modes of transportation,” she said.
The post Poe calls on LTFRB to lift deactivation of Hatchback TNVS drivers appeared first on UNTV News.