House probe of Grab pushed

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo has called on the House transportation committee to investigate the exorbitant rates charged by ride-hailing firm Grab, which is facing millions of pesos in fines for overcharging and ride cancellations.

Castelo urged her colleagues in the panel to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the “alleged illegal charges being imposed by Grab [on] its customers.”

The vice chair of the Metro Manila development committee noted that Grab Philippines had been ordered by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to return some P14 million in overcharges to its customers and to pay a fine of P2 million for too many driver-initiated ride cancellations this year.

In filing House Resolution No. 623, Castelo said Congress should determine if the penalty mechanisms in Grab’s undertaking with the PCC were sufficient to deter the company from charging “excessive and unconscionable fares.”

Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero, in a separate filing, proposed a bill regulating the fares of transport network vehicle services, including Grab.

Under House Bill No. 5807, such transport companies shall be subject to the “full regulation and supervision”of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the standardization of fare rates, as well as the system of refund in case of overcharging.

Escudero said the LTFRB should provide a convenient and effective refund mechanism for the passengers.—DJ Yap