By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has summoned nine more motorcycle taxi platform providers (MTPPs) as part of its ongoing investigation into discrepancies in the number of authorized ride-hailing units.
The latest batch of show-cause orders (SCO) issued brings to 30 the total number of ride-hailing companies being investigated over the illegal onboarding of unauthorized units.
In a statement on Tuesday, LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II said each of these MTPPs and transportation network companies (TNCs) is required to follow rules and regulations, including that only motor vehicles with authority to operate issued by the agency should be included or boarded.
However, during the distribution of fuel subsidies to qualified public transport workers, TNCs and MTPPs submitted lists containing more units than authorized in the LTFRB database, triggering the investigation.
“They have a lot of explaining to do on this matter, and we will make sure that those who defied our regulations will pay the price,” Mendoza said.
He noted that the fuel subsidy distribution exposed that these companies are not being truthful, particularly about the number of transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units and motorcycle taxis on their platforms.
In the SCO, the nine MTPPs were directed to explain in writing why their authority to operate should not be suspended or revoked for onboarding rides and vehicles in excess of the authorized cap and for failure to maintain the original units onboarded in their platform.
The hearing for these TNCs and MTPPs is set for May 15. (PNA)
