LTFRB’s suspension of Grab travel charge hit

Drivers and operators of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) decried on Friday the suspension of the collection of P2-per-minute travel charge imposed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), saying the low fares were adversely affecting their livelihood amid rising fuel prices.

While they welcomed the destination-masking feature implemented by transport network company Grab Philippines, they still cited security concerns for the drivers who might be ferrying passengers to “dangerous” areas.

Threat to sustainability

These changes allegedly threaten the sustainability of their services, with more drivers supposedly forced to leave due to these regulations, claimed members of the TNVS Leaders’ Council composed of 38 groups operating in Metro Manila.

In a press briefing, Melissa Redulla of Prime Transport Group said the fares, which were now lower without the travel charge, were unfair to the drivers given their expenses, which include fuel, mobile data connection and their vehicle’s amortization or rental, commonly known as “boundary.”

Glenn Jacobe of the Tiger City Philippines Transportation Alliance said that before the suspension, he earned around P4,000 to P5,000 after 20 trips.

Now, he only got around P2,000 for the same number of trips, he said.

‘Nobody to protect us’

While they welcome the destination-masking feature, the groups also expressed apprehension for their safety if they would not be able to see where their passengers were headed to.

“When we’re all out there on the roads, there is nobody to protect us,” Redulla said. “It’s just a little tool that can save us from danger.”

Grab implemented on Friday its destination-masking feature on 25 percent of its drivers who have historically high cancellation rates.

Brian Cu, Grab’s country head, explained on Friday that the feature only covered a quarter of drivers on their platform because this group makes up “80 percent” of the total driver cancellations and ignores in their system.—WITH A REPORT BY LAWRENCE LLACER