Transport officials to discuss online petition seeking to lift suspension of Grab, Uber applications

Philippine transport officials are readying to meet to discuss the possible lifting of the suspension on the acceptance of new driver applicants for ride-hailing services, with an online petition for the same starting to gain ground.

"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.

She was referring to an online petition seeking the lifting of the suspension order which would effectively grant permits to new drivers of Transport Network Companies (TNCs) such as Grab Philippines, and Uber.

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.

Hosted on online platform change.org, the petition is led by TNC driver Bobby Coronel, and it appeals to the government to lift the suspension and allow additional TNC drivers to operate to address the growing demand for the service.

"We cannot imagine a Philippines without ride-hailing services, can you?" the petition said.

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.

Just last week, the LTFRB slapped both Grab and Uber with a P5-million fine each for various violations of terms and conditions such as allowing drivers to operate even without a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) or a franchise of Provisional Authority (PA).

Both companies said they will comply and pay the P5-million fine, but Grab's Country Manager Brian Cu said majority or 24,000 out of their 28,000 vehicles still do not have the necessary permits to operate legally.

Given this, LTFRB Board Member and Spokesperson Aileen A. Lizada last week said only those with the proper permits are allowed to operate.

"So right now ang sinasabi namin, only those with PAs, I hope, Grab and Uber are listening, only those with PAs and CPCs must be on the road to book a ride. We will fine-tune everything next week when we create the technical working group (TWG)," she said last Wednesday.

Lizada clarified, however, that it has not issued any suspension order for any TNC.

In a separate interview on GMA News' "Balitanghali" on Monday, Grab Philippines Public Affairs Leo Emmanuel Gonzales said the TWG has yet to be finalized.

"Ongoing po 'yung suspension and that is something that we hope na maayos po natin sa technical working group na binubuo po ng LTFRB, Uber, tsaka Grab," he said.

"Hopefully mahimay po natin ang mga issue related to the suspension. Tatlo pong issue 'yun na nabanggit ng LTFRB — 'yung accountability issue, 'yung pricing, and technical specs," he added. - LA/KVD, GMA News