Salceda slams LTFRB for being anti-consumer

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee slammed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on its “arbitrary” decision to reduce the number of licenses granted to biker-partners of the ride-hailing firm Angkas, calling it an anti-consumer and anti-competitive behavior. 

The LTFRB’s move to trim the number of licenses from 27,000 down to 10,000 at the start of Angkas’ extended pilot run from December 23  March 23 next year threatens to throw some 17,000 bikers out of work in Metro Manila.

Salceda said “something’s not right with LTFRB’s policy behavior with respect to Angkas. Why don’t they just open the market to new players? And why the arbitrary reduction of licenses? (You favor somebody) at the expense of consumers’ choice and welfare.”

Salceda earlier cited the role of motorcycles in enhancing mobility and easing traffic. The proposed amendment to the Motor Vehicle Road Users’ Tax precisely exempts the transport sector from the road users tax.

He said Congress would look into the issue amid complaints from biker-partners of Angkas and suspicions that the LTFRB was favoring some transport companies to ferret out the truth behind the arbitrary decision.