TNCs allowed to continue service after dialogue

TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES (TNCs), particular their motorists deemed illegal or “colorum,” were allowed to continue service after a dialogue on Wednesday with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as initiated by Senators Grace Poe and Joseph Victor G. Ejercito.

In a related development, LTFRB said in a statement also on Wednesday it will establish a 1-stop shop for TNVS (Transport Network Vehicle Services) today.

Ms. Poe in a statement on Wednesday said, “The public uproar caused by the issuance of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2016-008, suspending the acceptance of applications for TNVS in Metro Manila made it necessary for our Committee, the Committee on Public Services to step in. I thank Senator JV Ejercito, one of my vice-chairpersons for the Committee of Public Services for his initiative in calling for a closed door meeting between the LTFRB and the Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) — Uber and Grab — and for his presence during that meeting.”

Ms. Poe, who heads the aforementioned committee, said further that, “although the LTFRB will push through with executing their memorandum circular, they will allow the TNCs to file their motion for reconsideration and pending the resolution of the latter, will allow existing ‘colorum’ TNVS to continue providing service.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Grab Philippines Country Head Brian Cu said in part: “Grab is filing a motion for reconsideration tomorrow which will start the process for further discussion on resolving the issues on colorum drivers.”

It was also agreed in the dialogue that “Grab and Uber will share their data with the LTFRB, so that the LTFRB, in crafting guidelines, will consider the actual number of TNVS on the road and not just the number of TNVS that have been accredited,” Ms. Poe’s statement noted.

She added: “Let us allow the LTFRB to do its job. They have to regulate common carriers to ensure accountability and to prevent the ‘dynamic pricing scheme’ of TNVS from overcharging passengers during peak hours.” —