Abaya urged: Suspend acceptance of TNV applications

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) asked Department of Transportations and Communications (DOTC) Joseph Abaya to suspend the acceptance of applications for all application-based transport network vehicles (TNVs).

LTFRB board member Ariel Inton said the agency is facing complaints regarding the accreditation of transport network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and GrabCar and the franchise given to TNV drivers.

He said the moratorium should be in effect “pending final disposition of all legal issues raised” by transport groups 1-Utak, Stop and Go coalition and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations.

1-Utak recently filed a petition with the LTFRB, asking the board to cancel the accreditation of all TNVs because of the price surges they implemented on the Sept. 8 traffic nightmare on EDSA.  

The Stop and Go coalition asked the Quezon City regional trial court to issue a temporary restraining order against the DOTC’s Department Order 2015-011 that allows TNCs to set their own fare scheme.

Under the law, the LTFRB as a governing agency should be the one to set fare scheme for all public utility vehicles. In this case, TNVs accredited by Uber and GrabCar are operating as public utility vehicles in the country. 

Last week, ACTO president Efren de Luna filed graft and corruption charges against LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez and LTFRB member Ronaldo Corpuz with the Office of the Ombudsman for allowing TNCs such as Uber and GrabCar to operate without fixing fare rates. 

Inton was not among those who signed a series of LTFRB memorandum circulars that allowed the operation of TNCs and TNVs since he was “out of the country.”