LTFRB blames Uber, Grab for colorum vehicles among TNVS

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is blaming transport network companies Uber and Grab for the existence of illegal transport network vehicle services among its ranks.

In Dano Tincungco's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" on Monday, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said the board was only putting things in order in cracking down against colorum TNVS.

"The existence of colorum TNVS is due to the TNCs failure to strictly comply with the terms of their accreditation. The board is simply cleaning the mess that the TNCs created," Lizada said.

Out of its 28,000 TNVS in their ranks, only 7,200 have the authority to operate from the LTFRB. Seventy-five percent of its vehicles stand to become idle once the crackdown on colorum TNVS starts next week.

"The TNCs have a duty to explain plainly to their peer operators for accrediting thjem without PA or CPCs issued by the board and that they take full responsibility for putting them at risk of operating illegally," Lizada said.

The LTFRB pronouncement comes amid an online petition seeking the lifting of the suspension order which would effectively grant permits to new drivers of TNCs. As of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 17, a total of 64,636 supporters have signed the petition.

This comes almost a year after the LTFRB decided to suspend acceptance of new applications for TNC providers under Memorandum Circular 2016-008 which was implemented on July 21, 2016.

In a statement, Grab asked the LTFRB for a discussion as regards the issues affecting the ride-hailing industry.

"Grab stands by the side of its partner-drivers who represent the safest most reliable transport service providers in the country," Grab said in a statement.

"We urge the LTFRB to convene the technical working group as soon as possible so we can discuss important matters affecting the TNC-TNVS industry," it added.

Uber has yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Philippine transport officials are readying to meet to discuss the possible lifting of the suspension.

"We will discuss [this] with the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board)," Department of Transportation Spokesperson Leah Quiambao said in a text message to reporters.

Asked for a timeline on when the meeting will likely take place, Quiambao said "(w)e are in constant coordination with them," but did not give a specific date.

"LTFRB will release a statement soon," she added. —NB/JST, GMA News