Grab Philippines said the new order of the Department of Transportation transferring the fare-setting authority from transport network companies to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board upholds its position that its present rates set in 2016 are legal.
The new DOTr order was issued only this week. It revokes the old order issued in 2015 allowing TNCs to set without LTRFB approval their own fares, which are in effect up to now. Under the new order, the present fares can only be adjusted with the approval by the LTFRB.
“So Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partlylist Jericho Nograles was wrong from the start in claiming our fares were not legal because the new order acknowledges that we were authorized to set our own fares in the past. It is only now that LTFRB will have the authority to approve our fares,” said Grab lawyer Miguel Aguila.
He said Nograles caused so much misery to the drivers who lost income and as a result were discouraged from driving, leading to fewer vehicles to serve riders.