TNVS: A Threat to The Taxi Industry

Thousands of Filipinos commute everyday. However, one cannot deny that commuting in Metro Manila has always been such an agony. Almost every day, people  endure the horrendous traffic, unbearable long lines in the MRT, faulty trains, and those grueling, overcrowded bus rides. So, for those who can afford it and wish to avoid these situations, taking a taxi seems to be the solution. Yes, it promises convenience, safety, and faster travel time but, of course, for a more expensive fare. It seems just about right, until you meet those abusive taxi drivers, who would subject passengers to unfair trade practices, refuse to transport commuters to a certain destination, or fail to give the exact amount of change. Safety issues have also been raised as several reports of people getting robbed, raped or kidnapped while in a taxi have been made. It is no wonder then why most Filipinos have embraced the ride-sharing services such as Uber and GrabCar when they entered the Philippine market in 2014.

Not everyone was happy with the arrival of these two companies in our country though. Just like in other countries, these ride-sharing services have been objected here in the Philippines by several public utility vehicle (PUV) operators because of “unfair competition”. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) have both been hard on these companies at the start, claiming that the ride-sharing service is illegal since they are operating without any franchise. To resolve the issue, and also after an outcry from the commuters, both LTFRB and DOTC came up with comprehensive regulations to make the operations of both Uber and GrabCar compliant with our public service laws. They created new transport categories such as the Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and Transport Network Companies (TNC), which basically legalized the new PUV players. The fight is not over though because on Friday, December 4, 2015, a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) has been issued by the Quezon City RTC against the operation of the said companies. This TRO, which was granted in favor of the Stop and Go Transport Coalition, essentially puts a stop on the orders issued by LTFRB and DOTC, which allows the operation of the TNVS.

Personally, I am against this TRO. There is no question that these ride-sharing services have provided Filipinos with compelling alternatives to taking regular taxicabs and dealing with greedy and abusive cab drivers. With Uber and GrabCar, people would not have to worry so much about their safety as both companies provide the driver’s information such as name, plate number, etc., when booking and make sure that every ride is safe, tracked, and convenient. It even gives the passenger an option to rate your experience and send a feedback to the company. Another thing is that both Uber and GrabCar’s drivers are definitely more courteous and considerate of their passengers. Most of the vehicles are also fairly new and clean compared to those regular taxicabs. And lastly, both companies also offer promos and discounts. These are the reasons why a lot of Filipinos considered these app-based transport services to be the solution to most of the issues or concerns they had with regular taxicabs as they are now provided with an innovative, better, more convenient, safer, and sometimes even cheaper way of commuting.

So, the question is, why are there people trying to stop these companies from providing their services in our country? Well, simply because of the fact that it negatively impacted their business. I understand that the income of taxi drivers has reduced over the past months but putting an end to the operations of these companies should not be the solution. This should be a wake-up call to them. They should see this as a healthy competition. They should realize that there may be something wrong with their services, which is why the people preferred to use Uber and GrabCar. If the taxi Industry cares for the welfare of the commuters, then they should rethink and adapt to the situation. Instead of putting all their efforts to put an end to the operations of these TNVS, why not just look into how they can improve their services?