Poe says Uber also at fault, but insists LTFRB suspension order too severe
Senator Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO
While criticizing the suspension order against Uber Philippines, Senator Grace Poe also lashed at the ride-sharing firm for defying the Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) directive not to accept new applications.
“Hindi naman kailangan na i-stop bigla e, sapagkat napakarami nga ng dependent dito (They did not have to (Uber’s operation) immediately because many depend on it),” Poe, chair of Senate committee on public services, said in an interview over radio station DZMM on Tuesday, referring to the one-month suspension imposed by the LTRFB against Uber.
“Hindi ko sinasabi na walang kasalanan ang Uber. Alam mo sa totoo lang may pagka-swapang din kasi iyong nangyayari dahil tanggap sila nang tanggap ng aplikasyon (I am not saying that Uber has no fault. To be honest, what it did was quite selfish when it continued to accept applications),” she added.
On Monday, the LTFRB suspended the operations of Uber for one month after the latter defied the July 26 directive of the agency not to accept new applications.
Uber suspended its operations Tuesday morning but resumed shortly after it filed a motion for reconsideration at the LTFRB. The LTFRB, however, denied the motion and maintained that Uber’s suspension remained in effect.
READ: LTFRB: Uber still suspended
LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada added that drivers who continued to operate, despite the Aug. 14 suspension order, would be apprehended.
“Drivers who are caught plying would face a fine of P120,000 and their units would be impounded for three months,” Lizada said during a press conference on Tuesday.
‘LTFRB is slow’
Poe, who earlier criticized the suspension order as “cruel and absurd,” also hit the LTRFB for its slow resolution on the regulation of Transport Network Companies (TNCs).
READ: Poe blasts one-month suspension of Uber as ‘cruel, absurd’
“So ito namang LTFRB, napakabagal rin ng kanilang pagdedesisyon. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng ride-sharing (But the LTFRB has been slow to make a decision. What do they mean by ride-sharing)?” she said.
“Kaya nga ang sabi na lang namin, dapat sa LTFRB, iyong regulasyon ninyo, ano ba talaga iyong inyong requirements, ilabas na ninyo. Ilang taon na rin iyan (That’s why we have been urging the LTFRB to come up with regulations and requirements. It has been around for years already),” said the senator.
Instead of suspending Uber, Poe reiterated that the LTFRB should have just imposed a fine against the company.
“Tapos ito, mali ang Uber, meron silang pagkakamali. Pero sa parusang ibibigay sa kanila, pwede naman kasing multang napakabigat, na ang multa na ‘yun, mag-aaray talaga ang Uber, pero hindi maaantala ang mga pasahero, meron pa ring matitira,” she further said.
(Uber committed a mistake. But they should have been penalized by fining them heavily—a fine which will hurt Uber, but not the public.) IDL
