LTFRB to clarify effectivity of TRO on Uber, GrabCar applications

MANILA, Philippines – The  Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will seek clarification on the effectivity of a court order stopping the processing of applications for ride-hailing service providers Uber and GrabCar.

LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said in a text message reply to Rappler on Wednesday, December 10, that the Office of the Solicitor General was set to file a motion for clarification before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court that day.

“The OSG (Office of the Solicitor General) advised us that as of yesterday, the petitioner has not yet posted the P300,000 ($6,351.89) cash or surety bond required by the judge in his order granting the TRO,” Ginez said.

“Because of this, OSG will file today a motion for clarification asking the court to clarify, among others, whether the TRO is already effective or not considering that the petitioner has not yet filed the bond. And if petitioner files it, when will the 20-day period commence,” he added.

The court on Friday, December 4, ordered the government to stop accepting Uber and GrabCar applications for 20 days, after a group of taxi operators raised the issue of oversupply of their units plying and earning from public transportation. (READ: No Uber, GrabCar applications for 20 days – court)

Judge Santiago Arenas has clarified the TRO does not apply to current operations of Uber and GrabCar, as it only stops government offices from accepting transport network vehicle service (TNVS) applications at the moment.

But petitioner Angat Tsuper Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization Transport Coalition, Incorporated (STOP and GO) said the TRO should also cover existing Uber and GrabCar operations.

A representative of STOP and GO said the TRO is “useless” if it only covers applications for TNVS units and transport network companies (TNCs). (READ: TRO vs Uber, GrabCar should cover operations – transport groups)

The TRO said “there is extreme urgency to issue TRO to prevent grave and irreparable injury and damages to the association’s officers and members because of their claim that they suffer less or low incomes…due to the sudden and uncontrolled increase in the number of TNVS utility vehicles running in the streets of Metro Manila.”

Meanwhile, Uber Technologies, Incorporated and GrabTaxi Philippines said they are “coordinating closely” with the transportation department and LTFRB regarding the court decision.

A letter from LTFRB Board Member Ariel Inton in October said there is a total of 4,465 accredited TNVS units to date; while around 3,500 applications are being studied by the regulator. – Rappler.com

$1 = P47.23