By VANNE ELAINE P. TERRAZOLA
Transportation officials said yesterday they will sit down with transport network companies (TNCs) and other stakeholders to iron out issues in the ride-hailing service industry.
Department of Transportation (DoTr) Undersecretary for Road Transport Tim Orbos said officials from the DoTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and TNCs Uber, Grab and U-Hop will meet to review the rules and regulations of app-based ride-sharing transport now facing issues, including their colorum operations.
The agencies form part of the technical working group (TWG) which was scheduled to convene on July 26, Orbos said.
“They have to know our mindset as regulators, and we have to see their mindset as businessmen. But we hope they set aside their business and that we will talk about who will be most affected by this issue: the commuters. Let’s prioritize the welfare of the public. That way we will have a common ground,” he told reporters.
Orbos, on Friday, met transport network vehicles service (TNVS) operators who filed a petition asking the LTFRB to lift the moratorium on the application of their franchises which reached its anniversary.
“We are asking the LTFRB to lift the suspension to allay fear among driver-operators who want to make a living.
Because as long as the suspension is in effect, operators might fall victims to corruption, and we cannot assure the riding public that we can continue the service we provide to them,” said Bobby Coronel, president of Top Speed and one of the petitioners.
Coronel said they initiated the appeal and only asked transport network companies (TNCs) Grab Philippines and Uber Systems, Inc. to help disseminate it among their partner operators.
The LTFRB issued on July 21, 2016 the Memorandum Circular 2016-008 which halted the acceptance of new applications of franchises for TNVS plying Metro Manila.
