LTFRB-7 to start mapping out colorum Uber, Grab operators

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 will start next week its mapping out of owners of Transportation Network Vehicle Services like Uber and Grab who continue to operate even without a franchise.

LTFRB-7 director Ahmed Cuizon said yesterday that once they finish mapping out those TNVS operators, they will immediately start their crackdown on illegal operators through their "Tokhang on Colorum."

Cuizon earlier said they will plead with operators of Uber and Grab car units to temporarily stop their operations while the policies and standards of TNVS are still under review.

"Amoa lang silang hangyoon nga mintras under review pa ang mga policies nga moundang lang 'sa sila," Cuizon said.

So far, there are 700 pending franchise applications for Grab and Uber car units before the LTFRB-7 alone.

LTFRB-7 has been intensifying its anti-colorum campaign over the past several months, gaining them ire from the affected colorum operators.

Two weeks ago, an LTFRB-7 anti-colorum campaign enforcer received a death threat from an apparently disgruntled operator, which prompted Cuizon to seek assistance from the Philippine National Police and beef up their security measures during their campaign.

Emil Membrillas, LTFRB-7 information officer, said they will continue to be relentless in their anti-colorum campaign since it is one of their mandates.

Memorandum Circular No. 2016-012 issued by LTFRB board chairman Martin Delgra III and board members Engr. Ronaldo Corpus and lawyer Aileen Lourdes Lizada on September 8 states that "pending review of existing policies and other relevant and pressing issues regarding the issuance of franchise to TNVS, the Board hereby orders the suspension of acceptance of all TNVS applications nationwide." (FREEMAN)