LTFRB gives TNCs 15 days to comply

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday, July 14, said that it will give the Transport Network Companies (TNCs) 15 days to comply with the order and pay the P5 million fine slapped against the latter. LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said that they have given the respondents until the last week of the month to follow the order that was placed by the Board after the LTFRB imposed the fine on the TNCs for letting the some of their drivers operate with the necessary permit such as provisional authority (PA) and certificates of public convenience (CPCs) to operate a vehicle. Lizada confirmed to Carmudi Philippines that colorum TNVS drivers could be apprehended after the 15-day period. She also said that there would be no extension as to the compliance and that TNVS drivers may contest the apprehension. Based on the signed consolidated order dated July 11--which was signed by Lizada, LTFRB chair Martin Delgra, and board member Ronaldo Corpus--the TNcs need to pay the fine of P5 million "for putting at risks the thousands of accredited TNVs for potential colorum activities and in violation of the terms and conditions of their accreditation." "Further, the Board directs the Transport Network Companies to submit their respective position papers to address the issues that have been raised and proposed the ceiling on the number of TNVS which do not have the required Certificates of Public Convenience or Provisional Authority," it added. Moreover, Lizada said that the "colorum" drivers of TNVS will not be apprehended yet as the LTFRB said that there is no order to catch the TNVS drivers and operators, who previously risked penalties against colorum vehicles, such as having their vehicles impounded. Early this week, LTFRB imposed the fine for letting the some of their drivers operate with the necessary permit such as provisional authority (PA) and certificates of public convenience (CPCs) to operate a vehicle. "There is no order yet issued by the Board to apprehend colorum TNVs. We await compliance by the TNCs on this matter before an Order is issued," Lizada said. In a statement, Grab Philippines Country Head Brian Cu expressed his company's willingness to comply with the payment of the fine and said that they will not pass it on to its operators, drivers, and users of the ride-hailing mobile app. "Rest assured that the fine will be fully shouldered by Grab Philippines and shall not, in any way, passed on to our partners and passengers," Cu said in a statement posted on the service's Facebook account. Earlier, drivers of various Transport Network Companies created a petition, asking the government to grant an amnesty that would allow them to operate.   Story and photo by Ruben Manahan IV