MANILA – Senator Raffy Tulfo announced Monday that he is planning to investigate the sudden surge in fees imposed by Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS), including Grab Philippines, to ensure that commuters’ and drivers’ rights are both protected.
“Maraming reklamo ang nakarating sa akin mula sa mga pasaherong gumagamit ng Grab na ayon sa kanila, kasama sa sinisingil na pasahe ng nasabing ride hailing application ang napakalaking surge fee (Many complaints have reached me from passengers who use Grab that according to them, the fare charged by the said ride hailing application includes a huge surge fee),” Tulfo said in a news release.
A surge fee is added to the base fare during peak hours but only a few drivers are available to encourage more of them to get out on the road.
Transport network companies (TNC), which operate the TNVS, are currently allowed to charge as much as twice the initial fare for surge fee.
Tulfo said his office had promptly reached out to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to inquire about actions taken regarding concerns over the issue.
According to the senator, the LTFRB said it has already conducted several hearings in response to commuter complaints and a draft resolution addressing the issue is expected to be released soon.
This resolution will outline the agency’s findings and potential penalties for violators, particularly those failing to adhere to fare rates established in Memorandum Circular No. 2019-036.
The LTFRB added that transport network companies violating fare regulations could face fines, suspension, or even franchise cancellation, as stipulated in Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01. (PNA)