LTFRB: Uber can still impose fare surges

MANILA, Philippines - Transport network company (TNC) Uber can still impose fare surges despite petitions from transport groups, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday.

Department Order 2015-011 of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), which supervises the LTFRB, gave TNCs like Uber the power to set their own fare matrix, LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez told reporters.

“That is allowed by virtue of the issuance of the certificate of accreditation,” he added, but clarified  that passengers have the choice whether to accept the fare set by transport network vehicles (TNVs) or not as it is a pre-arranged transportation system in nature. 

On Wednesday, the LTFRB heard the petition filed by 1-Utak coalition, which wants the board to postpone Uber’s fare surge. 

Lawyer Vigor Mendoza, who represents 1-Utak, said they only want equal treatment for all public utility vehicles – and TNVs are now considered as such.

The board, on the other hand, asked 1-Utak to file a proper motion.  

Ginez clarified that the fare matrix set by the TNCs is subject to the “oversight power” of the LTFRB, but the agency can only exercise this power “in case of disturbance of weather, earthquake, war and other local and national emergencies.” 

Meanwhile, the Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas – Genuine Organization transport coalition sought a temporary restraining order against the DOTC’s Department Order 2015-011 for allowing TNCs to operate even without franchise.

Uber started operating in December 2014 while GrabCar started in the second quarter of this year.