Uber suspension stays but might be cut short, says LTFRB

MANILA, Philippines — The  Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board order suspending the operations of a ride-sharing company for a month will stay as parties failed to reach an agreement during a meeting at the Senate on Wednesday.

Martin Delgra, the LTFRB chairperson, however, said that the suspension may be shortened if Uber files a pleading this week or next.

“The order stands, as I said, until such time that they will file the pleading and what we also have agreed is we’re going to hear it next week on the assumption that they will file it this week or any time before Wednesday,” Delgra told reporters after the meeting set up by Sen. Grace Poe aimed at resolving the impasse between Uber and the government  regulator.

Uber: We have every intention to respect LTFRB

The regional manager of Uber for Southeast Asia, Mike Brown, also apologized to LTFRB as he vowed that they would cooperate in efforts to untangle the messy transportation issues in Manila.

“Anything you need from us, we're gonna give. And if there has been a misunderstanding in the past, that's on us and I apologize for the misunderstanding,” he said. “We have every intention to respect LTFRB.”

On Monday, LTFRB disallowed Uber from operating its online booking application following its alleged “indisputable” violations.

The suspension came after LTFRB was able to activate three of its vehicles on the ride-sharing platform, a violation of the government agency’s order prohibiting the acceptance and activation of new vehicles in its fleet.

The presidential palace expressed support for the directive of LTFRB and said that Uber “unduly challenged” its rules and instructions.

Uber suspended its operations the following day, Tuesday.

"In compliance with the LTFRB order issued on August 14, 2017, we are temporarily suspending operations starting at 6:00am, Tuesday August 15th," Uber said in a statement and recognized the impact that it would have on its passengers.

Poe: Suspension is cruel, absurd

Poe, the chairperson of the Senate panel on public services, immediately blasted the suspension order and said that it would only worsen the transportation problem in Manila, which is already infamous for its traffic-choked streets and decrepit transport infrastructure.

She described the order as both “cruel and absurd.”

She said: "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."

Delgra, the LTFRB head, said that Uber should not apologize to them but to the riding public who was terribly inconvenienced by the suspension. He emphasized that LTFRB was just doing its job addressing transport issues.

“[T]his is not a fight. The statement that you came up that the fight isn’t over this is not a fight. We’re trying to work together here to address public transport issues,” the LTFRB chief said.

To which Brown replied: “I couldn’t agree more.”