Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Saturday ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to penalize taxi and TNVS drivers who frequently cancel booked trips, calling them “snobbish.”
Lopez said the DOTr will issue a memorandum circular directing the LTFRB to sanction drivers who cancel bookings for reasons such as heavy traffic and long distance.
He instructed the LTFRB to require TNVS operators to submit lists of drivers who habitually cancel bookings and to set up a public hotline for reporting erring and abusive drivers.
Lopez also directed LTFRB chair Vigor Mendoza II to “thoroughly study” the legal basis of surge pricing, with an eye to canceling it or at least deferring its rollout during the holiday season.
The DOTr will hold a public consultation with TNVS companies on Dec. 10 to discuss surge pricing and other concerns affecting passengers and drivers.
Lopez acknowledged the need to balance passenger welfare and driver income, saying any decision on surge pricing must consider who will ultimately be hurt by the move.
He ordered LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao to identify offices causing registration delays amid complaints from transport groups, giving him until Dec. 8 to fix the backlog.
The DOTr move comes as transport group Manibela has warned of protest actions over alleged harassment and systemic issues facing drivers and operators.
Lopez said the government will pursue cases and remove from office any public servants found extorting or engaging in payola schemes tied to enforcement.
“We need to start this December,” he said, urging prompt reform while stressing continued dialogue with TNVS firms and drivers to find workable solutions.
