Facade of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) must stand its ground against any illegal priority booking fee that can unduly select a passenger who can pay more than another, Sen. Grace Poe said on Monday.
Poe, outgoing chair of the Senate committee on public services, added her voice to the public uproar against “priority” fees charged by ride-hailing services.
“Our people deserve equal access to public transportation services without discrimination,” Poe said.
On Thursday, the LTFRB warned transport network companies (TNCs), which were collecting rates in excess of the implemented fare structure set for ride-hailing transport services.
The LTFRB cited an anonymous complaint that ride-hailing provider Joyride was charging as much as P1,000 as “priority boarding fee” for a one-way ride. The LTFRB clarified that its warning against “priority” fees applies to all TNCs.
—MELVIN GASCON
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