DOTr orders TNVS, motortaxi companies to halt onboarding new drivers, riders
Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez, on April 30, ordered Transport Network Companies and Motorcycle Taxi Platform Providers to stop onboarding and accepting applications of new drivers and riders.
Through a memorandum released on Thursday, addressed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman, Lopez instructed all TNCs and MTPPs "to cease and desist from onboarding drivers; except those with valid franchise or provisional authorities, and riders."
According to the secretary, the order is related to the "unfettered over-boarding of drivers and riders committed by some TNCs and MTPPs, which resulted in the violation of the common base supply for Transport Network Vehicle Service and motorcycle taxi rider cap."
During the Senate Committee hearing on the Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effect Crisis Strategy on Wednesday, Lopez had already warned TNCs about their exceeding the cap set by LTFRB. Lopez also called out current and former officials of the DOTr and LTFRB who allowed TNCs and MTPPs to go over the authorized number of onboarded drivers and riders.
"Dapat may pananagutan talaga ang TNCs dito...May pananagutan din dapat ang LTFRB or DOTr, whether present or former officials, kasi hinayaan itong mangyari," said Lopez.
His memo follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's order to investigate the apparent abuse of some TNCs that go over the maximum limit of drivers, which allegedly results in the companies having a roster of "tempo drivers."
Per Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, these tempo drivers do not have a permanent license to operate a vehicle under a TNC.
"Malinaw naman ang utos ng Pangulo, dapat umaksyon tayo kaagad para hindi malagay sa alanganin 'yung mas marami pang drivers at riders. Nararapat lamang na gawing legal ang kanilang onboarding," said Lopez.
"Hindi na dapat magpatuloy ang maling sistema, aayusin natin ito kaagad," he added.
In the same memo, Lopez forbade the same companies from performing on-the-spot and same-day onboarding of drivers and riders without approval of the LTFRB.
Additionally, Lopez officially issued orders for the proper regulation and monitoring of the onboarding process of TNCs and MTPPs.
The secretary further instructed the LTFRB to investigate erring TNCs and MTPPs. He ordered the regulatory body to "impose appropriate sanctions" if they are found to have violated the common supply base by "onboarding drivers and units without proper authority from the Board, and violating the motorcycle taxi rider cap."
