LTFRB lifts Uber’s suspension after payment of P190-M fine

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday lifted Uber's one-month suspension after it settled the P190-million fine.

"Wherefore, in view of the submission of proof submitted by USI, the one-month suspension on the accreditation of USI by virtue of the Order dated 14 August 2017 is hereby lifted abd set aside, subject to the further verification of actual receipt by the TNVS (Transport Network Vehicle Service) peer-operators of the amount due to each of them," read the ruling that LTFRB board member Atty. Aileen Lizada read at a press conference.

LOOK: LTFRB's August 29 order lifting the one-month suspension of Uber. pic.twitter.com/ImCdJz2lxj

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) August 29, 2017

Lizada said that Uber was able to submit the copies of the following documents in compliance to their August 25 order:

• Official receipt No. 6993521 evidencing the payment of the amount of P190-million dated 29 August 2017 as proof of payment of the fine;
• Affidavit of Candice Kua operations and logistics manager of USI certifying that Uber has remitted P299,244,000 in financial assistance payments to operators for the period 15 August through 29 August 2017;
• Bank transaction activity issued by Wells Fargo showing financial assistance payments made to TNVS peer-operators from 15 August 2017 through 29 August 2017 submitted through email; and
• List of TNVS peer-operators indicating the total amount of financial assistance that they have received for the period of 15 August 2017 through 29 August 2017.

Uber on Tuesday afternoon through its lawyers Roberto Ramiro and Ane Mascenon  paid the P190-million fine in exchange for the lifting of the one-month suspension imposed by the board for violating the ban on accepting new drivers.

The ride-hailing app reactivated its application at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, just minutes after the board lifted the one-month suspension order.

Meanwhile, Uber has shed almost half a billion pesos in order to fully comply with the LTFRB's conditions on lifting the one-month suspension.

On August 25, the LTFRB said it would grant Uber's request to have the one-month suspension lifted if the TNC would pay a P190-million fine.

The board said in its order that the the fine will be remitted to the national treasury once Uber has paid for it.

Apart from the fine, Uber was ordered to remit financial assistance to its drivers P19.9 million a day until its operation is restored.

Lizada on Saturday clarified the basis for imposing a P190-million million was the average daily income of Uber estimated at P7 million to P10 million. —NB, GMA News