Uber suspension is 'cruel, absurd,' says Grace Poe

MANILA, Philippines — The decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to suspend operations of Uber for a month exacerbates the problem of having a lack of reliable transportation options, Sen. Grace Poe said on Monday.

"The decision of the LTFRB to suspend Uber is both cruel and absurd, to say the least," Poe said in a statement.

The LTFRB ordered the one-month suspension of the ridesharing company due to "indisputable" violations.

Uber has temporarily suspended its operations starting August 15 following the order.

Meanwhile, Poe called for an urgent meeting with LTFRB officials at the Senate on Wednesday to resolve the issue.

"I am aghast that this agency that committed before the Senate to resolve the issues has just imposed a cure that will only make the disease much worse," the senator said.

Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, stressed that about 200,000 riders a day would be affected by the suspension of the operation of Uber along with its accredited vehicles.

"Our people deserve to have options when it comes to choosing convenient, safe, and reliable transportation services to brave the daily punishing traffic jam," she said.

The senator added that the suspension of the ridesharing company is the defiance of the LTFRB official's commitment to providing a solution to issues regarding transport network vehicle service operations.

She stressed that the Senate committee asked the board to clear the issues with the TNVS by October last year and not for them to suspend the operations of any transport network company.

"Why can’t the LTFRB be innovative in coming up with an appropriate penalty that is fair and that will not prejudice the riding public? Is there no other less crippling penalty at our disposal? Thirty days is a long time," Poe said.

Statement on LTFRB's order to suspend Uber pic.twitter.com/tqIERRF0bY

— GRACE POE (@SenGracePOE) August 14, 2017