The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez instructed Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Atty. Vigor Mendoza II to immediately penalize abusive, rude and arrogant drivers of taxis and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) who cancel bookings or overcharge or refuse to accept passengers during the ongoing holiday rush.
Sec. Lopez said they are issuing a memorandum circular for LTFRB to sanction taxi and TNVS drivers who frequently cancel trips or bookings, citing heavy traffic or long distance.
“There are those who are canceling; we will ban [the canceling of booked trips],” Lopez said.
“Because most drivers or TNC (Transport Network Companies) operators, the reason they say is traffic. If that were the case, they should just not go out. Traffic would be reduced even more,” he pointed out.
“That’s the purpose of a public utility vehicle (PUV). It’s hard because they accept bookings and then just cancel them. The passengers are pitiful,” he added.
DOTr’s acting chief said they will mandate TNVS operators to submit to LTFRB the list of drivers who frequently cancel bookings.
He said the LTFRB will also create a hotline for the public to report erring and abusive drivers.
Lopez also directed the LTFRB to “study the legal basis of surge pricing of trips, either to cancel it or at least defer it during the holiday season.”
“I just have to strike a balance either canceling it totally or to defer it maybe next year or it will be implemented better without it,” he said.
Lopez emphasized that the DOTr can cancel the surge pricing. They are also considering the possibility that “maybe the ones who will suffer from that are our passengers.”
“We need to study carefully. We are still in dialogue with TNVS. Again, the drivers, we will look at how they will be affected, what alternative measures their company can provide,” Lopez added.