THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Tuesday lifted its suspension of Uber System Inc. after it paid a P190-million fine and provided financial assistance to its more than 36,000 drivers.
The mobile-app transport network company, represented by its lawyers Roberto Ramiro and Anne Mascenon, settled the fine through a check.
The fine was equal to Uber’s average daily income of P10 million multiplied by 19 days of its suspension, LTFRB spokeswoman Aileen Lizada said.
The LTFRB ordered Uber’s one-month suspension on Aug. 14, which was to lapse on Sept. 14 for its defiance of a moratorium against accepting new drivers and operating 53,334 unregistered units.
The LTFRB cleared Uber to reactivate its mobile application and resume operating after it paid the fine.
Lizada said Uber offered financial assistance to its drivers because if its suspension order had not been lifted, Uber would have had to pay its more than 36,000 drivers another P300 million for the remaining days of its suspension.
Earlier, lawyer Vigor Mendoza of the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon said Uber must pay a P6-billion fine for operating more than 50,000 unregistered units in Metro Manila.
Under the law, a driver without a 45-day provisional authority is required to pay a P120,000 fine for each unit.
