Grab, Uber drivers unhappy with LTFRB’s plan to ban hatchbacks, limit TNVS units

Drivers of Transport Network Companies (TNCs) Grab Philippines and Uber aired their grievances over the supposed plan of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ban and remove the accreditation of compact cars and hatchback vehicles, saying this would affect their livelihood.

Grab and Uber drivers converged on Sunday night at Quezon City Circle to discuss LTFRB's plan to no longer allow hatchbacks or non-2,000-cc rated vehicles as transport network vehicle units, according to a report on Unang Balita on Monday by Mav Gonzales.

The drivers said more than 1,000 drivers may lose their jobs if LTFRB will push through with such a plan.

They also expressed apprehension over the common supply base for TNVS nationwide, which was limited to 45,700 units. Of this number, LTFRB has set 45,000 units for Metro Manila, 500 units for Metro Cebu and 200 units for Pampanga.

Metro Manila Hatchback Community vice president John Lee said LTFRB's plan  will not only take away the livelihood of the drivers but would also affect surge pricing.

"Aside from losing the livelihood of these small Filipino families, another impact is number one, it will result to surge pricing from the TNCs. Number two is that [it means] more waiting times for the riding public," he said.

He also appealed to the LTFRB to extend the transition period as the latter has given affected drivers three months to change their units into a sedan before the LTFRB fully implements its order starting April.

"Grant amnesty to those units that [are] already in the system of the TNCs or number two, extend the transition period from 90 days to five to seven years hopefully, because we feel that the transition period of 90 days—it's just too short," Lee said.

Meanwhile, Rodolfo Niegas, who worked as an overseas Filipino worker for two decades, said he decided to go back to the Philippines last 2015 to work as a Grab driver.

"Kasi sa abroad, in the ship, after ng job ko, I will not be together with my kids and my wife. While [with] Grab and Uber here in the Philippines, I can be with them after eight hours or 10 hours of job, online, in the streets. I can be with them afterwards," he said.

Niegas said it would be difficult to switch to a sedan as he has yet to fully pay his loan for his existing unit.

"Natatakot kami. Ano ipapakain namin sa pamilya namin? Biglaan po," he said.

"Inutang po namin 'yung cars namin and then kasalukuyan naming babayaran 'yan. Ang gusto nila we have to change it with sedan. But how could we change it with sedan if we still have existing loan in the bank?" he added.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra earlier said the order to put a common supply base was prompted by the "dual citizen" practice of TNVS operators or drivers.

"The ceiling of 45,000 units was determined from the relevant data given by the leading TNCs taking into consideration churning rate, percentage of full-time and part-time TNVs, peak and off-peak hours and average daily bookings, among others," Delgra said.

"The MC setting a limit on the number of TNVs was arrived after judicious and careful deliberation by the Board following numerous TWG (technical working group) meetings with TNCs during which relevant data were discussed and subsequent informal consultations with TNCs," he added.

Around 45 to 50 percent of the total 125,000 TNVS units—55,000 for Grab and 77,000 for Uber—are said to be "dual citizens," according to LTFRB board member Atty. Aileen Lizada, adding that not all are active. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News