Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to crack down on taxi and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers who cancel booked trips for reasons such as traffic or distance.

The move comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to monitor and address the rising number of booking cancellations and other violations, which often worsen during the holiday season.

Lopez said drivers should be held accountable for refusing passengers, noting that public utility work requires a higher level of responsibility. The LTFRB is set to issue a memorandum circular that will include penalties for both taxi and TNVS drivers who cancel confirmed trips.

He also criticized drivers who blame traffic for rejecting bookings, saying such practices leave commuters stranded.

Lopez has likewise instructed LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II to review the legal basis of surge pricing and determine whether it should be suspended or deferred during the holidays. A public consultation with TNVS companies is scheduled for 10 December.

The DOTr will also require TNVS operators to submit lists of drivers who frequently cancel rides, while the LTFRB is preparing a hotline where passengers can report erring drivers.Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to crack down on taxi and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers who cancel booked trips for reasons such as traffic or distance.

The move comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to monitor and address the rising number of booking cancellations and other violations, which often worsen during the holiday season.

Lopez said drivers should be held accountable for refusing passengers, noting that public utility work requires a higher level of responsibility. The LTFRB is set to issue a memorandum circular that will include penalties for both taxi and TNVS drivers who cancel confirmed trips.

He also criticized drivers who blame traffic for rejecting bookings, saying such practices leave commuters stranded.

Lopez has likewise instructed LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II to review the legal basis of surge pricing and determine whether it should be suspended or deferred during the holidays. A public consultation with TNVS companies is scheduled for 10 December.

The DOTr will also require TNVS operators to submit lists of drivers who frequently cancel rides, while the LTFRB is preparing a hotline where passengers can report erring drivers.