Nograles: Grab charging P100 'booking fee'

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Representative Jericho Nograles on Saturday claimed Grab Philippines has been charging its passengers a "booking fee" of P100 per trip.

According to a press release from his office, Nograles received reports from consumers that Grab imposed the P100 charge without the authority of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

"Grab is again trying to usurp the power of the LTFRB to set and implement fare standards after coming out with a new scheme which puts their booking fee at P100 per trip," he said.

According to the lawmaker, the said fee is already being reflected on the fare breakdown posted by Grab which, he said, deducts the same amount purportedly as promotional discount.

“To mask this unauthorized charge, Grab is giving P100.00 discounts," Nograles said.

"Clever as it may be, Grab is still liable for prematurely charging its consumers,” he added.

'Be fair'

In the same release, the lawmaker appealed to the LTFRB to "be fair" in imposing implementation of fines on all forms of public transport, including transport network companies (TNCs) like Grab.

"LTFRB threatens drivers who overcharge by one peso, yet treat with kid gloves the multi billion company that has been caught lying many times," Nograles said.

He cited Joint Administrative Order no. 2014-01 in saying "TNCs like Grab Philippines can be charged the same way as jeepneys where each violation constitute one offense."

"The law should apply to all," Nograles added. "Our hapless jeepney drivers should not be used as punching bags just to show our regulators are dutifully enforcing our laws."

"Barya-barya lang ang kinikita ng ating mga jeepney drivers tapos napag-iinitan pa sila samantalang ang Grab ay kumikita ng P20 Million bawat araw na laway lang ang puhunan," Nograles said.

By the lawmaker's calculations, the LTFRB has yet to collect P335 billion from Grab if a penalty will be applied for each instance of the P2 per minute charge, which Nograles had said was "illegal."

GMA News Online has reached out to Grab for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. —Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News