Senator Raffy Tulfo slammed ride-hailing service Grab for its high fares and for having drivers that frequently cancel bookings during the holiday season.
This is as the Senate Committee on Public Services discussed commuter complaints about the difficulty of booking Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) like Grab.
During the hearing, Tulfo highlighted complaints about steep fares, referencing a video from his office where passengers shared their experiences with TNVS rides.
One passenger mentioned that her fare increased from P600 to P900. Others raised concerns about drivers canceling bookings.
“Magbu-book ang isang pasahero sa Grab sasabihin will be there in 20 minutes. Pagdating ng 20 minutes, papa-extend ng another 10 minutes. Na-extend, so naging 30 minutes na and then all of a sudden ica-cancel. Ba’t ganun?” Tulfo said.
“And then kapag ang pasahero ang nag-cancel malilintikan,” Tulfo remarked. “Dapat alisin multa na 50 pesos kung magkansela pasahero. It should go both ways.”
Grab’s Head of Public Affairs, Atty. Gregorio Tingson, acknowledged that they lack sufficient drivers, particularly during rush hour.
“Marami hindi bumibiyahe, at yung iba pinapalipas po yung traffic kaya po kailangan maincentivize po sila na bumalik po sa daan especially pag kailangan po ng riding public,” Tingson explained.
Tulfo then mentioned that taxi drivers are fined for being choosy with passengers, but Grab drivers seem to get away with it.
He added that regular taxi drivers are still on the road whether there’s heavy traffic or not.
Tingson apologized and assured that they investigate any reports they receive.
“Dito po nagkakaroon ng kaukulang imbestigasyon o tinitignan po yung bawat sitwasyon at titignan yung reasons for cancellation. Minsan po iba iba po siya but ang importante po ay inirereport din po sa platform para maaksyunan po namin agad,” Tingson said.
“May tinatawag na penalties pag may reklamo. Graduated po siya. Minsan suspension, ban sa platform,” Tingson added.
Tulfo then asked Grab to include a notice in their app stating that drivers who cancel bookings will face a P5,000 penalty. Tingson agreed to comply.
LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III, for his part, said that penalties are imposed on drivers who cancel bookings.
“If and when a passenger gets cancelled and an appropriate complaint or we were notified , the sanction there is on the first offense is a penalty of P5,000. The violation is refusal to convey dahil tinanggap mo ‘yung pasahero and then ayaw mo siyang dalhin sa kanyang destinasyon,” Guadiz said.
“Meron na po kaming mga na-sanction bagamat kokonti lang po dahil kokonti ang nagpapaabot sa LTFRB,” Guadiz added. (TCSP)
