The recent deactivation of 5,000 Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) units of Grab due to the lack of requirements “will highlight several challenges, most especially for the Filipino commuting public,” said Grab Philippines public affairs manager Atty. Nicka Hosaka in a press statement.
She continued: “As demand continues to grow, there are simply not enough TNVS (units) to ferry the Filipino commuters. Grab aligns itself with the Filipino people in improving the state of transportation in the country, and continues to work on meaningful initiatives that aim to ease the industry’s pain points, and uplift the lives of many Filipinos.”
In an earlier statement, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that the operators and drivers of TNVS units had been given ample time to comply with the requirements in applying for a certificate of public convenience (CPC) or a provisional authority (PA). According to its records, 40,522 TNVS units have already been granted with a CPC and PA while 29,714 units secured provisional authority.
“This is proof that the timelines given were realistic and achievable. This is likewise proof that those who applied due diligence in compliance with state requirements are given an opportunity to participate in public transport service,” the LTFRB had said.
An article from the The STAR revealed that the LTFRB is cool to the appeal of Grab to allow the 5,000 drivers who were deactivated from its system to temporarily operate. The agency insisted that only TNVS units registered with the LTFRB can operate. Grab Philippines president Brian Cu had urged the agency to allow the reprieve.
Atty. Hosaka maintained that “social solutions such as GrabShare have been launched to help maximize the cars on the road, and be able to service as many passengers as possible- thus minimizing the effects of the recent 5,000 TNVS deactivation. However, these are merely remedial steps as 15,000 to 20,000 more TNVS units are needed to address the current demand. Grab will continue to uphold our commitments to our regulators by assuring the riding public that our fare structure is still within LTFRB’s approved TNVS fare matrix.”
