DOTr orders LTFRB to penalize ‘snobbish’ taxi, TNVS drivers

Acting Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to penalize taxi and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers who cancel booked trips of passengers, citing reasons like heavy traffic and long distances. 

In an advisory, Lopez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DOTr to monitor and address the drivers’ “unacceptable” practice of cancelling bookings and other violations, especially during the holiday season. 

The DOTr chief said taxis and the Transport Network Companies (TNCs) that cancel booked trips will be sanctioned by the LTFRB.

Lopez also said that they will mandate TNVS operators to submit to the LTFRB the list of drivers who frequently cancel bookings. The LTFRB will likewise create a hotline where the public can report erring and abusive drivers.

He also ordered LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II to thoroughly study the legal basis of surge pricing of trips, either to cancel it or at least defer it during the holiday season. 

The DOTr will hold a public consultation with TNVS companies on December 10 to tackle issues regarding surge pricing.

“Kailangan naming simulan na ngayong Disyembre. But I just have to strike a balance right now of either cancelling it totally or deferring it. Baka sa susunod na taon mas mai-implement na wala na po.  We can always cancel it [surge pricing], but again, baka ang mag suffer diyan ay ang ating mga mananakay, so kailangan pong araling mabuti at iba pa rin ‘yung nakikipag-dayalogo tayo ng mabuti sa TNVS. Again, the drivers, titingnan natin kung paano sila maapektuhan, kung ano ang pwedeng alternative measures na ibibigay ng kanilang kompanya,” Lopez said.

(We need to start this December. But I just have to strike a balance right now of either canceling it totally or deferring it. Maybe next year it will be better to implement it without it. We can always cancel it [surge pricing], but again, maybe the ones who will suffer are our passengers, so we need to study hard, and we need to have a good dialogue with TNVS. Again, the drivers—we will see how they will be affected and what alternative measures their companies can provide.) — VBL, GMA Integrated News