Senator JV Ejercito wants to stress that drivers of Uber and Grab who are holding provisional authorities (PAs) or certificates of public convenience (CPC) will not be apprehended on July 26.
As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Ejercito met with representatives of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Uber and Grab, along with Senator Grace Poe.
Ejercito says, as a result of the meeting, Uber and Grab had promised that they would file motions for reconsideration following the LTFRB’s apprehension order set to take effect on Wednesday next week.
“Wala munang huli. Magkakaroon muna ng hearing at magkakaroon ng panukala ang LTFRB (there will be no apprehensions. Hearings will first be conducted and LTFRB will draft policies),” Ejercito said in an interview on Thursday.
For his part, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra clarifies, their stand has not changed.
He says, Uber and Grab drivers can apply for PAs while their main application for franchise is ongoing.
Delgra expects the two firms will file appeals before July 26, based on their agreement on Wednesday.
He notes, the two companies classified under Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) should not have any problem getting provisional authorities as "more than 20,000 operators (of Grab and Uber) are assisted by law firms.”
The PAs are effective for 45 days and drivers may apply for extension of validity.
The LTFRB chief emphasizes, “if it involves public transportation, there has to be some level of regulation.”