Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles today accused Grab Philippines of distorting the country’s laws and the lawful orders issued by public transport regulators like the Land Transportation Francghising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to justify its abusive fare rates while leaving their driver-partners high and dry.
Nograles said that Grab Philippines and its lawyers have been citing Department Order 2015-011 issued in May 8, 2015 which allows TNCs to set their own fare rates subject to LTFRB oversight but has completely ignored more updated orders and issuances made by LTFRB.
Nograles specifically cited the December 27, 2016 order of the LTFRB which specifically enumerated the allowed fare charges which have been completely ignored by Grab.
“Obviously, a 2016 LTFRB Order supersedes the 2015 Order and not the other way around but Grab continues to pretend that the later LTFRB ruling does not exist and keeps on harping about an old and outdated order to justify their illegal fare rates,” Nograles said.
In its December 27, 2016 Order, the LTFRB clearly directed Grab to adopt an itemized fare structure which are “Base fare or Minimum fare” of P40, “Per kilometer charge” of P10 to P14 depending on the vehicle used and “price surge” of up to twice the fare for the distance traveled.
In that order Nograles noted that there was no item which includes a P2 per minute charge in the fare structure and the minimum fare was P40 and not P80 or P125 which is being charged by Grab.
“Grab violated a lawful order of the LTFRB and cites an order which is already passé and outdated. It’s either Grab lawyers are just too ignorant of our existing laws or are deliberately distorting them to justify their excessive greed for profit,” Nograles stressed.
“They are probably trying to cast doubt on their criminal actions para makalusot sa criminal case na pwedeng isampa sa kanilang mga Officers pati mga Malaysians,” Nograles added.
“And when they are being confronted for cheating the public, they use their driver-partners as their excuse for their abusive business practices when in fact, even the drivers are victims of Grab,” he added.
Nograles said if Grab Philippines is really concerned about the plight of their driver-partners, the company should reduce their commission to 10% instead of the 20%-25%. Even at 10% commission, Nograles said that Grab would still rake in a whopping P10 Million per day or P300 Million per month. (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)
