Ride-sharing drivers appeal to LTFRB to lift ban on new application

Drivers of different app-based ride sharing platforms sign a petition to ask the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to lift the ban on new applications of drivers. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAB

Transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) leaders on Friday appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRB) to lift their ban on new driver applications.

Members of TopSpeed and Busypaps, two organizations comprising at least 250 Grab and Uber drivers, made the appeal as the LTFRB’s suspension order to temporarily stop receiving new TNVS applications was about to reach one year on July 21.

The new drivers who were prohibited to ply Metro Manila because of absence of a provisional authority (PA) from the LTFRB asked the regulatory body to lift the suspension order for them to be given permit and start earn a living.

This development came after the LTFRB issued an order on July 21, 2016, suspending the acceptance of new applications for PA thus, prohibiting a number of drivers not to go out and pick up passengers for about a year now.

“Kami po ay umaapela sa mabuting puso ng ating mga opisyal sa LTFRB, sana po ay pakinggan nyo ang aming hiling na bigyang amnestiya ang aming mga kasamahan na wala pa pong provisional authority (We are appealing to the good hearts of our LTFRB officials to heed our request to grant amnesty to our colleagues without provisional authority),” Bobby Coronel, founder of TopSpeed, said.

According to Coronel, TNVS drivers have always wanted to fully comply with regulations but their applications were either not processed judiciously by the previous admin or did not make it to the cut off as a result of the suspension. Moreover, they cannot simply give up their livelihood, and LTFRB must understand their situation.

“Marami po sa amin, may binabayaran pa po na monthly amortization ng mga sasakyan (Many of us are still paying for the monthly amortization of cars),” TopSpeed lady driver Deseree Garcia said, while asking LTFRB to understand their situation.

Meanwhile, other TNVS leaders also appealed to the LTFRB to act on the recently expired accreditation of transport network company, Grab.

Grab’s accreditation expired last July 3.

In his Facebook post Monday, Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu said it’s “business as usual” for the company and its partners. Cu added, they have submitted the requirements for the renewal of accreditation on time.

But TNVS drivers said, they are still concerned with the current status of non-renewal of accreditation. Rogelio Nato Jr., INQUIRER.net trainee / JPV