(File photo)
MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should stand up against illegal priority booking fees.
Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday all commuters deserve equal access to public transportation without discrimination.
"Walang lugar ang anumang hindi makatwirang singil sa ating mga kababayang patuloy na nagigipit sa gitna ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin (There is no place for any unreasonable charges for our countrymen who are struggling amid price hikes in commodities)," Poe, the chair of the Committee on Public Services, said in a statement.
Poe reacted to a social media post of a ride-hailing company offering optional additional fees for passengers who want to be prioritized.
In the app (application), passengers can choose to pay additional PHP20, PHP50, PHP100, and PHP200 or a “custom fee” which could reach up to PHP1,000.
Thus, drivers pick passengers who pay priority fees over the others who cannot afford to shell out extra fare.
In response to complaints, the LTFRB warned the transport network companies against collecting charges above the approved fare structure for transport network vehicle services (TNVS).
LTFRB also asked the ride-hailing company to submit a written explanation on why its accreditation as a transportation network company (TNC) should not be revoked.
The agency has started deploying "mystery riders" to check on the compliance of TNC and TNVS operators on the proper fare structure and the terms and conditions of Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2019-036.
Under the MC, the fares for TNVS are set at PHP40 flag-down rate for sedans, PHP15 per kilometer (km) and PHP2 per minute; PHP50 flag-down rate for premium Asian utility vehicles and sports utility vehicles, PHP18 per km, and PHP2 per minute; and PHP30 flag-down rate for hatchbacks and sub-compacts, PHP13 per km, and PHP2 per minute. (PNA)
