GRAB PHILIPPINES (MyTaxi.PH) again urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow it to impose a P2 per minute charge, as the regulator conducted its third hearing on the issue on Tuesday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Grab country head Brian P. Cu appealed to LTFRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra III and board members to allow the company to reimpose the charge, as well as accept new transport network vehicle service (TNVS) applications.
“Regardless of what others say, it is the lack of TNVS vehicles to fill that huge gap between supply and demand that is the root cause of the issues affecting Grab and its partner drivers. These same issues, unless resolved will also affect the new TNCs (transport network companies),” Mr. Cu said.
In April, the ride-hailing company’s P2 per minute charge was suspended by the LTFRB when Representative Jericho Jonas B. Nograles of the Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list filed a petition, saying the company’s fare system is illegal.
Grab filed an appeal, citing a department order in 2015 that allowed TNCs to set their own fares.
But in June, the Department of Transportation passed a new department order which gave the LTFRB the authority to set the fares of TNCs.
LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada told reporters in a Viber message last week that Grab’s petition on the P2 per minute charge is still up for hearing. Sought for comment on the company’s recent appeal, Ms. Lizada has yet to respond as of press time.
Meanwhile, Grab launched on Tuesday a driver training program that aims to provide its drivers with advanced skills for their jobs.
It partnered with Philippine Red Cross, A1 Driving School and the Highway Patrol Group for the Grab Driver Academy.
The ride-hailing company said its curriculum covers Driver Transformation Training, First Aid Training, Basic Defense Driving and Crime Protection and Detection.
The training program also offers elective courses on communication, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, time management, data privacy and social media handling.
Grab said the project is currently available to the company’s top 2,000 best performing drivers, but will eventually be offered to more drivers. — Denise A. Valdez
