CALL TO ACTION Members of the TNVS community urge their members to join them in a transport holiday on Monday. PHOTO/Jam Sta Rosa
MANILA, Philippines — Ride-hailing firm Grab said on Friday it would offer monetary awards to its drivers who will not participate in the planned “transport holiday” on Monday, July 8.
A transport network vehicle services (TNVS) group has announced plans to stage a “transport holiday” where they would temporarily stop operations and go offline for 12 hours on Monday as a protest.
READ: TNVS drivers to stage nationwide ‘transport holiday’ on July 8
Grab reminded its drivers of their “commitment to service the Filipino commuting public.”
“To help support this commitment, Grab offers #TuloyPasada Reward to driver-partners who will continue to service the commuters on July 8, 2019, from 6 a.m. up until 6 p.m.,” Grab spokesperson Nicka Hosaka said in a statement.
The firm added that it would provide legal assistance to those who were wrongly apprehended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
It will also hold a “TNVS Caravan” from July 15 to 19 to “help prospective driver-partners prepare their TNVS applications.”
Grab also welcomed the LTFRB’s “openness” for a dialogue, hoping this would “swiftly ease this long-standing issue” concerning the TNVS drivers and operators as well as the commuting public.
The LTFRB has invited TNVS drivers and operators to a dialogue on July 9 to “address concerns on the process of accreditation and the necessity of such regulations and requirements.”
READ: LTFRB sets dialogue with TNVS drivers, operators on July 9
READ: Delgra to TNVS drivers on ‘transport holiday’: Don’t hold public hostage
Grab earlier cautioned its drivers against taking actions that would “negatively impact” the booking of rides and affect the riding public.
It encouraged its drivers to work with the firm as well as regulators and passengers through a dialogue.
READ: Grab urges caution on ‘transport holiday,’ calls for dialogue with commuters, regulators
TNVS drivers and operators have aired concerns on LTFRB’s “difficult and inconsistent” policies in terms of registration and application for accreditation, which ultimately led to the deactivation of 5,000 drivers and operators from Grab’s platform.
READ: Grab illegal drivers only 5,000, not 8,000