LTFRB is facing a class suit for rejecting hatchbacks as TNVS

The Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection is set to file on Friday, June 21, a class suit against the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for disqualifying hatchback cars from the list of transport network vehicle service (TNVS) providers.

According to the group’s president Ariel Inton, they will file before the Quezon City Regional Court a mandamus case against the regulatory board for suddenly stopping the accreditation of hatchback vehicles.

“Ang ifa-file po namin ay isang class suit. We identified several hatchback providers who are similarly situated with other probably thousands more na hindi tinanggap na application ng hatchback o kaya naman, mga dineactivate,” he said in a press conference in Quezon City.

Inton said the mandamus case seeks to prompt the LTFRB to implement Memorandum Circular (MC) 2018-005 which allows hatchback vehicles as TNVS under a transition period from 2018 to 2021.

“The memorandum circular took effect February 28, 2018. The transition period should start from that date, add three years, so puwede pa ang hatchback ng February 27, 2021,” he said.

“We are going to file the mandamus case—LTFRB i-implement ‘yung MC. Why? Wala namang ibang dahilan para i-stop mo dahil wala ka namang binago doon sa polisiya. Kung mayroon man, it was not in writing. It cannot be that way,” said Inton.

Manila Hatchback Community president Leonardo de Leon, Jr. noted 1,225 hatchback vehicles were deactivated this month, saying they were told by the LTFRB that hatchback vehicles were “unsafe” to ply as TNVS.

Hatchback drivers received mobile messages from Grab on June 10 that they would have to go after a week due to their type of vehicle, De Leon said.

“Ang deactivated hatchback, according kay Grab, 1,225. Ito po ‘yung mga nawalan ng hanapbuhay,” he said.

“Isang linggo ang binigay na advisory ng Grab sa TNVS na madedeactivate. Masyadong maiksi ‘yon para makapag-prepare kami,” he elaborated.

De Leon said the drivers have appealed to Grab, only to be informed by the transport network company that “its hands were tied.”

“Tali daw po ang kamay nila sa LTFRB, so hindi nila kami matutulungan dahil tali ang kamay nila,” he said. —VDS, GMA News