Arcade City worse than other ride-hailing service apps —LTFRB

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday said Arcade City is worse than other ride-hailing app service companies.

"Itong Arcade City ay mas malala pa sa mga ibang TNC (transport network company) kasi po sinasabi nila hindi sila TNC, hindi sila TNVS (Transportation Network Vehicle Service), sila daw po ay isang marketing web na company," LTFRB's Aileen Lizada explained Monday in an interview on Unang Balita.

"'Wag ho kayong magpapaloko because itong Arcade City is making a mockery of the rules and regulations sa bansa ho natin," she later remarked. 

The ride-hailing startup's CEO and founder Christopher David announced last week that they will push through with their launch in the country despite a cease and desist order from the LTFRB, insisting that the company is not a TNVS but essentially an aggregator for TNVS services.

The launch was scheduled as ride-hailing app Uber is expected to stop its operations after merging with Grab.

The LTFRB ordered Arcade City to shut down its operations in 2017 for failing to coordinate with the transport bureau for its services.

"Ang reply po ng Arcade City, we forgive LTFRB for not understanding them," Lizada said. "Malalabo sila kasi they will encourage illegal TNCs, illegal TNVS to be included in their app."

She added that those who will use Arcade City's app may also risk having their personal data stolen.

She said Arcade City had not presented its systems to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The LTFRB warned Arcade City Saturday of a possible crackdown against drivers using its mobile app should it persist with its operations despite the cease and desist filed against it.

The LTFRB is coordinating with Transport Undersecretary Tim Orbos to write a letter to the appropriate embassy regarding the company and with the DICT to take down its IP address.

Lizada said operatives from LTFRB and other agencies will be mobilized to apprehend Arcade City cars.

"MMDA, LTFRB, LTO, HPG enforcers, magda-download po kami ng app today, sasakyan ho namin lahat ng mga kotse ng Arcade City na makikita ho namin. We will impound and we will impose a fine of P120,000, " Lizada said.

Lizada also implored private car owners not to transact with Arcade City.

Arcade City is a ride-hailing app-based company from Austin, Texas. —Rie Takumi/ALG, GMA News