Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SEN. GRACE POE’S OFFICE
Even though it ferries thousands of passengers every day in Metro Manila, transport network company (TNC) Uber should keep its feet on the ground and follow government rules and regulations, Senator Grace Poe said on Thursday.
“Tama po, maging mapagkumbaba din naman sila. Hindi naman porke’t kinakailangan sila ng marami nating mga kababayan ay aasta silang ganoon (Right, they should be humble. They shouldn’t act that way just because many people need them),” Poe said in an interview with DZBB radio.
Poe was referring to Uber’s defiance of the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) ban on accrediting new drivers and cars into the TNC’s platform.
In a meeting with Poe and LTFRB on Wednesday, Uber apologized to regulators for the “misunderstanding” and said they are ready to give whatever the agency needs from the company.
The senator said that while it is understandable for TNCs to gain support from the public, especially when trains always break down and when safe and decent vehicles are not enough, this should not be abused by Uber.
“Kaya nga lang huwag naman sanang abusuhin kasi tinutulungan din natin. Ang gusto lang namin dito ay yung mga pasahero ay huwag naman ma-inconvenience (But I hope they do not abuse it because we are also helping them. What we want here are the passengers not to be inconvenienced),” she noted.
More than 200,000 passengers use Uber everyday, according to the senator.
Poe said that despite its firm decision to suspend Uber, the LTFRB should still consider fining the company and not to prolong its decision.
“Pero sana sa ating mga nasa executive branch huwag na nilang patagalin ang mga desisyon tatanggapin rin lang naman nila at magbabayad na rin naman ng multa, tanggapin na sa ngayon (I hope that our executive branch will not prolong its decision; if it will accept the fine, then accept it),” she said.
“At pag gumawa pa rin ng kalokohan ay doon na natin talaga, kasi nabigyan na natin sila nang sapat na pagkakataon (And it they still commit violations, that’s when we suspend them because they were already given time),” she added.
Poe also pushed for a much clearer guidelines on ride-sharing services, from the simple definition of the service to the number of fleet that TNCs can be accepted in each of the platform.