Senator Raffy Tulfo announced on Monday that he will push for an investigation into the sudden surge in fees imposed by Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS), particularly during the holiday season.
Tulfo emphasized the need to protect drivers and commuters, stating that surge fees are applied to the base fare during peak hours when driver availability is limited to encourage more drivers to use the roads.
He also noted that the probe would cover ride-hailing companies, including Grab Philippines.
“Many complaints have reached me from passengers using Grab, who claim that the fare charged by the ride-hailing app includes a huge surge fee," Tulfo said in Filipino.
The senator’s office immediately coordinated with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Tulfo asked the agency about its efforts to address the issue.
In response, the LTFRB stated that a series of hearings on the surge fee have already been conducted to address complaints from commuters.
The agency said a draft resolution is expected to be issued soon.
Included in the proposed resolution are the LTFRB’s findings and all possible sanctions on violators, especially for those who failed to comply with the set fare rates for TNVS contained in their Memorandum Circular No. 2019-036.
Violators could face monetary penalties, suspension, or even cancellation of their franchise under Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.
Tulfo, chair of the Committee on Public Services, announced that he will file a Senate Resolution, in aid of legislation, to thoroughly investigate and address commuters' complaints against various TNVS in the country.