The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has yet to update the protocol that will correct practices by transport network companies (TNCs) passing significant portions of the 20% fare discounts for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and students onto their drivers
In January, the LTFRB promised to issue a resolution “by the end of the month” directing TNCs to refund drivers.
The new protocol was expected to take effect in February.
“Wala pang latest na resolution (There is no resolution yet),” said Leonardo De Leon Jr., a former Grab driver whose complaint to LTFRB revealed how TNC drivers absorb large portions of the legally mandated discounts.
Under the current protocol, JoyRide absorbs only 20% of these discounts and passes on 80% to drivers. Grab and Get Express absorb 36% and 50%, respectively, and pass on 64% and 50% to drivers.
The practice has led to some drivers discriminating against senior citizens, students and PWDs to avoid granting the discounts.
Drivers interviewed by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) are still waiting for LTFRB Chairman Guadiz III to fulfill his promise.
“Sobrang naging masaya po kami nung narinig po namin yan na marerefund po ‘yan…. Pero iniisip po namin, paano kaya irerefund? (We were so happy when we heard that the discount amounts will be refunded…. But we have wondering, how will they refund it?)” said Grab driver Jephone.
Guadiz made the promise in a Senate committee hearing in January.
He said the LTFRB had been “drafting a memorandum circular which will be implemented this February wherein all of the discounts will now be shouldered by the operator and the owner of the app… Dapat walang shino-shoulder ang drivers (Drivers should not shoulder anything).”
Guadiaz revealed at the Senate hearing how ride-hailing companies such as Grab and JoyRide and courier service company GET Express were offloading to drivers a portion of the discount amounts.
De Leon is a member of Malayang TNVS Movement. The group gathered at the LTFRB office on Feb. 19 to urge the LTFRB “to take immediate action and implement a policy that ensures TNCs – not drivers – should bear the cost of fare discounts. While the LTFRB has previously stated that TNCs should be responsible for these costs, no concrete steps have been taken to enforce this directive.”
LTFRB’s standing protocol, based on Memorandum Circular 2015-016-A, states that “all discounts mandated by law, policies, rules and regulations shall be shouldered by the TNC.”
The board en banc held two separate hearings to learn how accredited TNCs implement this provision.
PCIJ’s sources said that the resolution on the complaint had been drafted as early as January, but has yet to be signed by its board members. — PCIJ.org