DURING a hearing conducted by the Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III announced that a memorandum circular would be issued by the end of January to standardize the implementation of discounts for students, persons with disabilities (PWD), and senior citizens across ride-hailing platforms currently operating in the Philippines.
The initiative follows LTFRB’s thrust to clarify the various conflicting memoranda issued in the past that have led to the inconsistent implementation of special discounts by TNCs.
Guadiz said the guidelines will also clarify who will bear the cost of the special discounts.
When questioned about the legislation mandating the distribution of discounts between drivers and platforms, Guadiz said, “Right now, Mr. Chair, we have to admit there is still none.
It was an oversight on our part. But we hope to correct this by the end of this month.”
Guadiz said the memorandum set to be released by the end of January will designate Transport Network Companies (TNCs) and operators as the primary entities responsible for covering the costs associated with the special discounts, ensuring that drivers are not burdened with these expenses.
Grab Philippines commended the LTFRB for its definitive action on the standardization of the implementation of special discounts. Grab Philippines Head of Public Affairs Gio Tingson said: “Grab has consistently supported the commuting public and the government in ensuring that passengers receive these discounts properly. We extend our gratitude to the LTFRB and Senator Tulfo’s office for finalizing the implementation of these special discounts with clear guidelines.”
Ira Panganiban, chairman of the Coalition of Filipino Commuters, expressed gratitude to the LTFRB for addressing their call for standardization made late last year.
“We thank Chair Guadiz for taking action to standardize the rollout of student, PWD, and senior citizen discounts across digital ride-hailing platforms. By standardizing the implementation, we ensure that the public receives the discounts mandated by law. This move will put an end to the inconsistent or non-existent application of discounts by some platforms. We also extend our thanks to TNCs like Grab, Angkas, and Joyride for respecting and implementing these discounts,” Panganiban said.
