Delgra to TNVS drivers on ‘transport holiday’: Don’t hold public hostage 

MANILA, Philippines — Do not hold the riding public hostage, but instead air out concerns through dialogue.

This was the appeal of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra on Friday after a group of TNVS drivers and regulators announced plans to stage a “transport holiday” on Monday, July 8.

Drivers and operators from the TNVS Community will temporarily stop operations and go offline for 12 hours on Monday, in protest against the LTFRB.

READ: TNVS drivers to stage nationwide ‘transport holiday’ on July 8

Delgra urged the group to reconsider their “planned disruptive action” and consider the interest of the public.

“We ask TNVS operators to be more circumspect in their plan to hold a transport holiday that will affect the commuting public,” the LTFRB chairman said in a statement.

“Instead, we urge them to bring their legitimate concerns to LTFRB, in dialogue, so that the Board can address them and not hold the riding public hostage by their planned disruptive action,” he added.

He further said that the agency “welcomes constructive criticisms and feedbacks from all stakeholders.

For its part, the TNVS Community said it is open for dialogue and has actually been reaching out to the LTFRB.

“Hindi nagkulang ang TNVS stakeholders sa pag reach out sa LTFRB for a dialogue. Individually and as a group, they reached out to LTFRB,” Ariel Inton, chair of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection, earlier told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview on behalf of the TNVS Community.

“Pero walang nangyari. It fell on deaf ears,” he added.

Inton also assured that the group will not hold any “harsh action” and “everything will be done in a peaceful manner of expressing grievances.”

Ride-hailing firm Grab also called on the group to refrain from taking action that would “negatively impact” the booking of rides.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

READ: Grab urges caution on ‘transport holiday,’ calls for dialogue with commuters, regulators