It would be a pity. This was how Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya described Uber’s fate, once the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board starts apprehending its drivers’ operations.
The transport network company’s (TNC) operations are still considered illegal, as it has yet to receive its license to operate taxi-like services in Metro Manila.
“If they are not complying, then they are colorum; so we will need to go after them. But we cannot impose a deadline on when they should apply for a license,” the transport chief said.
When worst comes to worst, Abaya said in the vernacular, “Pasensyahan na lang. It’s a fair game.”
He seemed puzzled at how Uber took his agency’s decision to legalize the operations of ride-hailing application operators, and its delayed response to the ruling.
“They brag that the Philippines is forward-looking; saying that we have the right framework, and yet they cannot comply,” he said.
The Philippines is the first country to legally recognize ride-hailing services. The Department of Transportation and Communications in May issued a department order, acknowledging the need for such innovation.
A TNC is an organization that provides prearranged transportation services for compensation using an Internet-based technology application or a digital-platform technology to connect passengers with drivers using their personal vehicles.
They will provide the public with online-enabled transportation services, which is known as Transportation Network Vehicle Service, which will connect drivers with ride-seekers through an app. In a nutshell, TNCs are companies that partner with private-vehicle owners or even fleet managers to provide private taxi services to consumers.