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LTFRB allows Uber, Grab appeal on apprehension order vs. ‘colorum’ drivers


The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed Transport Network Companies (TNC) Grab and Uber to file an appeal against the apprehension order that is set to take effect on July 26.

The decision was reached after Senators Grace Poe and JV Ejercito, chairperson and vice-chair of the Senate public services committee, respectively, heard representatives of LTFRB, Grab and Uber in a closed-door meeting Wednesday afternoon.

“So pag natanggap ang motion for reconsideration (MR),  titingnan yan ng LTFRB, at habang dinedeliberate yan, patuloy ang serbisyo nitong Grab, Uber at mga ganung uri ng service provider,” Poe told reporters.

In effect, Ejercito said the apprehension order is “prolonged” pending the resolution of the MR expected to be filed by Grab and Uber.

“The ball is with Grab and Uber already,” Ejercito said.

“May commitment sila (LTFRB) pero hindi rin nila masabi up to when yung pag-allow nila. Ang importante hindi ma-disrupt [ang serbisyo]kasi napakarami ng dependent dito sa Uber at Grab,” he added. 

The LTFRB earlier said that only 15,440 vehicles have the necessary documents to operate, while the majority or 56,000 cars are considered “colorum.”

LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra III said the services of these “colorum” vehicles may continue once Grab and Uber resort to the necessary legal remedies.

“Sa ngayon, tuloy ang biyahe, hanggang ma-resolve yung problema depende sa gagawin ng mga TNCs,” Delgra said.

Grab Philippines Public Affairs head Leo Gonzales said they will file a motion for reconsideration Thursday.

“Once that is filed, the Board will have to take that into consideration and that would give us more time to discuss more issues,” Gonzales said.

Meanwhile, a group of senators led by Senator Joel Villanueva has filed a bill calling for a Senate investigation on the LTFRB’s process of granting franchises to Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) providers.

“This issue between the LTFRB and TNVS adds additional burden to our commuters and I believe we must come up with an expeditious resolution that will strike a balance between the government’s role to regulate businesses and at the same time, provide better means of mass transport to the public,” Villanueva said.

The LTFRB has previously blamed Uber and Grab for accepting new applications despite a suspension order issued last year. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News

Tags: ltfrb, uber, grab
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