Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 27) — Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III said Thursday that there were too many drivers for the ride-sharing apps plying Metro Manila’s streets.
Delgra told CNN Philippines’ The Source on July 27 that Grab and Uber each have an estimated 28,000 Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS), which is the official term for drivers that the companies enter into their platforms, thus making them available for customers to book.
“They are also telling us, based on their data, they’re getting something like 12,000 to 15,000 demand at any time,” he said, pertaining to the number of TNVS actually demanded by riders. “There’s so many of them.”
Delgra’s statement comes after the LTFRB ordered on July 26 that Grab and Uber remove TNVS activated after June 30, 2017.
He said the order is an interim measure, adding that the LTFRB could order additional deactivations once it gets more data from Grab and Uber.
Delgra also responded to criticism of the LTFRB, saying that the agency is “fully supportive” of ride-sharing apps.
“What we have been telling Grab and Uber is that they will have to simply follow the law,” he said. “What that means is that we need to strike a balance between having to address public demand for this type of transportation, as well as having to regulate it, again, to protect the riding public.”
Reaccreditation in limbo
The LTFRB order comes amid the pending reaccreditations for both companies. Grab’s accreditation expired on July 3, while Uber’s will expire in August.
LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2015-015 states that a TNC must obtain accreditation, valid for two years, before being allowed to operate.
Following a July 11 public hearing, the LTFRB meted a P5 million fine to each company for committing a number of violations, particularly for “colorum” TNVS or those operating without a 1-year certificate of public convenience (CPC) or a 45-day provisional authority (PA).
Read: LTFRB fines Grab, Uber ₱5 million each for violations
On July 17, the LTFRB ordered Grab and Uber to submit a list of accredited operators, which only includes those with a CPC or a PA.
Read: LTFRB orders Grab, Uber to submit list of accredited operators
Those not on the list were supposed to have been apprehended starting July 26, but the LTFRB allowed these “colorum” operators to continue following a motion for reconsideration filed by Grab and Uber on July 20.
