COMMUTERS SEEKS REGULAR IMPLEMENTATION OF DISCOUNTS ON RIDE-HAILING APPS

Commuters are demanding the LTFRB to ensure that ride-hailing services provide students, senior citizens and PWDs with discounts as mandated by the law (Photo courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer)

A commuter group called on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to uniformly enforce government-mandated discounts for students, senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) across all digital ride-hailing platforms, or transport networking companies (TNCs).

The Coalition of Filipino Commuters (CFC) said that the call was made in response to mounting concerns from passengers as well as social media posts indicating that current ride-hailing services in the Philippines are implementing the mandated discounts in various means.

The group claims Some platforms allegedly fail to offer the discount on their apps altogether, which they say constitutes a flagrant violation of the law. “The CFC underscores that the lack of standardization and oversight in discount implementation makes it more challenging for Filipino students, senior citizens and PWD commuters to access the discount.”

“Furthermore, the inconsistency in the implementation not only hampers the intended financial relief but also complicates the verification process, potentially leading to fraudulent claims that could adversely affect driver earnings,” the group said.

It said that the discounts could be properly granted if the LTFRB develops a standard process for their issuance. As digital ride-hailing continues to gain traction in the Philippines, the CFC emphasized the urgent need for the LTFRB to scrutinize all ride-hailing platforms meticulously.

“By spearheading the standardization of discount applications, the LTFRB will ensure equitable access to mandated discounts and uphold the rights of Filipino commuters,” it added.

Recently, Senator Raffy Tulfo criticized ride-hailing leader Grab Philippines for requiring their drivers to shoulder the discounts for students, seniors and PWDs. Moreover, Tulfo also asked the LTFRB to review the case of public utility jeepneys, as he found out that drivers are also paying for the discounts instead of their operators.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

Be part of ImHenyo community!

Get featured by sharing your stories, news, and comments

Email us at [email protected]