Poe pushes Senate inquiry into online transport services
With the emergence of new online-enabled public transport options such as Uber and Grab Car, Sen. Grace Poe is pushing for an inquiry to assess their operations and determine if legislation is needed to cover these services.
In a resolution filed by Poe, she said the Senate committee on public services should assess these online-enabled transportation services on their safety, reliability and integration into the country’s public transport network.
Poe said several issues need to be taken up during the hearing, including the contribution of these vehicles to an already congested road network.
She cited a report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which stated that total traffic demand in Metro Manila and the adjoining provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite already amounts to 18.8 million trips.
The report pointed out that the overall demand exceeds road capacity and that total traffic demand is expected to increase to 22.5 million trips daily.
“The abovementioned circumstances indicate that the State must not only improve our existing transportation network, but also encourage the development of innovative means of transportation in order to address the expected increase in traffic demand,” Poe said in her resolution.
She acknowledged that online-enabled transportation services such as Uber, Grab Car and Easy Cars have grown in popularity as innovative, safe and convenient alternatives to taxis, buses, jeeps and the mass transit systems.
Taxi operators have been against the operations of these online-enabled transportation services as they directly compete with them.
They have also pushed for the regulation of these services, which the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has initiated.
The DOTC recently included these online-enabled transportation services as a new class of public transportation under Department Order No. 2015-11.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has also issued additional guidelines on the accreditation and issuance of Certificates of Convenience for Transportation Network Vehicle Services.