Court sets aside petition for TRO against P2P policy

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) on Monday did not issue the temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by transport and labor groups against a policy that would require UV Express vans to operate on a strict terminal-to-terminal basis.

According to Judge Maria Luisa Gonzales-Betic of QCRTC Branch 90, the TRO petition was “moot and academic” because the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) already suspended the implementation of the contested policy last week pending further consultations.

But that didn’t mean the case itself was dismissed, said Ariel Inton, chair of Lawyers for Commuters and Protection, as his clients had also sought a preliminary injunction.

The petitioners and LTFRB were both given 15 days to submit their respective positions on the issuance of a preliminary injunction, the merits of which would be heard afterward.

“It’s a relief that we no longer need a TRO because the implementation of the circular is, in the words of [LTFRB chair Martin Delgra III], on hold,” Inton said.

Defend Job Philippines and Stop and Go Transport Coalition asked the court on June 13 to issue a TRO and writ of preliminary mandatory injunction against Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2019-25, which was issued by the LTFRB on May 16.

MC 2019-25 abolished a provision in a previous order that allowed UV Express vans to load and unload passengers within a two-kilometer radius of their designated endpoints.

Jun Magno, president of Stop and Go Transport Coalition, said the “unjust policy” would inconvenience passengers and put at risk the livelihood of UV Express drivers.