Uber to LTFRB: P10 Million Fine instead of One Month Suspension

Uber has reportedly asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that, instead of ceasing its transport network vehicle service operations for one month, it is willing to pay a P10 million fine in lieu of the suspension. According to LTFRB board member and spokesperson Aileen Lizada, the proposed P10 million fine will be on top of Uber's declaration to compensate its partner drivers/operators. Lizada added that the agency will conduct a hearing on Uber's proposal on August 23, 2017. If the LTFRB approves the P10 million fine, this would put the total amount of fines Uber has had to pay the agency to P15 million, with the P5 million fine being handed down back in July "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." "We will be hearing Uber's side. If there is a need to hear the TNVS as regards to their financial assistance, we will do the same. We will not be pressured to fast track everything," Lizada reportedly said in an interview. The scheduled meeting will happen a week after Uber and the LTFRB officials met with the Senate Committee on Public Services over the accreditation of transport network companies (TNCs) last August 16, 2017. In the meeting, Uber Technologies Southeast Asia Manager Michael Brown supposedly apologized to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III for any misunderstanding caused by its acceptance of new drivers into its system despite the agency's order to TNCs to cease accrediting partner drivers. "If there's been a misunderstanding in the past, that's on us and I apologize for that misunderstanding," Brown said.