Press Release
February 15, 2018

Opening Statement of Senator Grace Poe
Committee on Public Services
On TNVS Issues

Feb. 15, 2018

As chair of the Committee on Public Services, I take it upon myself to untie the Gordian knot entangling the LTFRB and the members of the TNVS sector. Mayroon tayong tatlong isyu na gusto nating tugunan ngayon.

Una ay yung pagkakaroon ng limit sa bilang ng mga TNVS sa Metro Manila at iba pang mga lugar. Tulad ng sinabi ko dati, sang-ayon ako rito, pero hindi naman pwedeng humugot lang tayo ng numero mula sa hangin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa LTFRB at DOTr na tumugon sa aking panawagan na repasuhin ang naunang common supply base na 45,000. Ngayon na 65,000 na ang supply cap, gusto pa rin po nating malaman, paano umabot sa desisyon ang LTFRB sa numerong ito?

What algorithm did the LTFRB use to parse the supply and demand figures of Grab and Uber to arrive at this cap? Will other TNCs be affected, such as U-Hop and other possible future players? Does the LTFRB have sufficient technical expertise to analyze such data?

Although we recognize LTFRB's good intentions, we still need to look into the possible adverse effect on supply and demand. All forms of public transportation use some form of supply and demand analysis to ensure that a sufficient number of vehicles is always deployed. When a supply cap is imposed, it may lead to an insufficient number of vehicles to meet demand throughout the day. It is already common to see TNVS riders frantically trying but unable to book rides at peak hours. Tumagal na rin ang waiting time at tumaas ang unsuccessful bookings. Will the cap on TNVS units worsen or lessen this problem?

Pangalawa, gusto rin nating malaman kung ano ang polisiya ng LTFRB patungkol sa hatchback vehicles. Lagi natin naririnig ang LTFRB na inirarason ang kaligtasan ng mga pasahero ng hatchback. May safety issues nga ba talaga dito? Kung ligtas ito bilang sasakyan ng ordinaryong mamamayan, bakit ito hindi magiging ligtas bilang TNVS unit?

Ganunpaman, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa LTFRB sa pagtugon sa aking panawagan na pakinggan ang mga hatchback vehicle owners. Sa pinakahuling inilabas na Memorandum Circular ay nabigyan ng palugit na tatlong taon sa ating mga hatchback vehicle owners na mabawi ang ginastos nila. Sapat na nga ba ang tatlong taon?

Finally, we will discuss the TNC's petitions for a fare hike triggered by the newly-enacted excise taxes on gasoline and oil. This is a particularly sensitive issue, as we will need to strike a delicate balance between the needs of drivers and riders. On one hand, drivers are the frontline soldiers of TNVS operations. Their livelihood is directly tied to the prices at the gas pumps. On the other hand, we cannot forget the riders who will be hit with higher surge rates at peak hours.

Tulad ng dati, nais nating makahanap ng solusyon na pabor hindi lang para sa TNVS, kung 'di lalo na para sa ating mga mananakay. I implore all sides to look at the issues from each other's perspective. Tulad nang sa mga dating issues na napagtagumpayan na natin, pag-usapan natin ito nang may bukas na isip at buong katapatan sa lahat ng ating magiging commitments.

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