Author Topic: Philippine taxi operators eye similar ride-hailing app as Uber, Grab  (Read 2041 times)

MikeLigalig.com

  • FOUNDER
  • Webmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 33279
  • Please use the share icons below
    • View Profile
    • Book Your Tickets on a Budget
Taxi operators eye similar ride-hailing app as Uber, Grab
 August 3, 2017, 4:31 pm Share

MANILA, Aug. 3 -- A taxi operators group on Wednesday said that it is eyeing the creation a ride-hailing application similar to Uber and Grab to “level the playing field” in providing transportation service to the public.

Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA) head Bong Suntay, during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, recognized that taxis and its drivers had its flaws, but stressed that these were due to “limits” to regulations set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Taxi operators have repeatedly blamed Uber and Grab for a decline in the number of passengers who hail taxis and for the number of drivers who prefer to work for transport network companies (TNCs).

"We have nothing against Uber and Grab. We have always believed that the market is big enough for all of us to co-exist but co-existence but under a level playing field," Suntay said.

Suntay acknowledged that while taxi drivers refused passengers, usually during traffic, it was because they did not have the dynamic pricing scheme or surge pricing offered by transport network vehicle services (TNVS).

"What makes them distinct is they could use the application to tell passengers how much they pay. We are limited on using the taxi meter. We basically use the same vehicles. What makes us distinct are regulations," he added.

Suntay also asked for the conduct an "automatic review" of taxi fare every two years with or without inflation.

Former taxi driver now Grab driver Ronald de Guzman, agreed that the reason why he switched to driving for a TNVS service was because he could not meet the daily boundary required for taxis at PHP1,200 to 1,500.

Grab Country Head Brian Cu said that a Grab driver earns around PHP18,000 a month (or five and a half day) or PHP600-700 daily.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, welcomed the proposal to create an app for taxis and the request for a review of taxi fare every two years.

"We’re going to craft a law that makes it fair (for both taxis and TNVS). Developing an app wherein taxis can be contracted will allow them to have price competition," Poe told reporters in an interview.

"We should have an automatic review. The reason why (taxi) drivers refuse passengers, complain, is because of traffic and the meager amount they earn while Grab and Uber are allowed to have price surges. It’s not a level playing field. That’s what we need to consider in crafting legislation," she added. (Azer N. Parrocha/PNA)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=87155.0
John 3:16-18 ESV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

👉 GET easy and FAST online loan at www.tala.com Philippines

Book tickets anywhere for planes, trains, boats, bus at www.12go.co

unionbank online loan application low interest, credit card, easy and fast approval

Tags: