Expect to wait longer to get a booking on ridesharing platform Grab as transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers are set to hold a “transport holiday” on July 8.
In a statement, the TNVS Community announced that drivers of the ridesharing platform will go offline and cease its operations from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday to raise their concerns against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
TNVS drivers said they will be setting up protest camps at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Mendiola Bridge, and Senate-Diokno Avenue in Pasay City.
“The 12-hour #LabanTNVS Transport Holiday on Monday is our form of collective protest against our various issues and complaints against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s pahirap policies (causing hardship) which curtails our right to decent and legitimate livelihood for our families,” the TNVS community said in a statement.
The group also said that Monday’s transport holiday will be the beginning of a series of activities to air their grievances against the regulatory commission.
“Our #LabanTNVS Transport Holiday on Monday will only mark the beginning of more protests to come in the coming days leading to the State of the National Address of President Duterte on July 22 and even beyond in order to send our appeal to the President to take immediate action on our situation, and until the LTFRB will not heed our demands and address our concerns,” the group said.
Members of the Metro Manila Hatchback Community are also expected to file a case against the LTFRB before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Grab has urged the TNVS community to “show utmost restraint” over their planned transport holiday saying the protest “could negatively impact the ability of passengers to book rides.”
In a statement, Grab Philippines public affairs manager Atty. Nicka Hosaka said, “Let us take the high road and to not resort to any rash actions that would directly affect the passengers we are all committed to serve.
“We recognize the TNVS partners’ right to free speech and peaceable assembly. In many ways, we also support the call for smoother processes and faster timelines,” she continued.
“We encourage our TNVS partners to work with us, with passengers, and with our regulators to address TNVS pain points through dialogue.”
