(Eagle News) – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board announced that there are three more applicants for Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) which have already signified their intention to enter the ride-hailing system as possible competitors of Grab, which has taken over its previous major competitor, Uber.
LTFRB Board Member Atty. Aileen Lizada said that the three TNVS applicants have already submitted their papers.
“Nag-apply na po sila. They have already submitted their papers,” Lizada said in a press briefing with Grab on Wednesday, March 28.
Lizada said that the three applicants for TNVS would “need to present to the Board” their business design, and their fare structure among others requirements.
She said that the Board will also instruct these TNVS applicants what to do so they could get their accreditation and franchise.
“On the part of the Board, we will tell them what we want to see. Like when you book a ride, you must see the name of the driver, type of car, your case number, your plate number, the type of vehicle. So the basic thing. We want to know – the fare structure of the TNCs (Transport Network Company),” Lizada explained.
“So three soon will be joining the TNC where they will be joining the TNVS from the pool as well,” she said.
Lizada said that the franchise that the LTFRB will be giving for TNVS would be based on the condition that there would be a common pool, a “common base.” There will be no more brand in the franchise.
“The franchise that we gave before had a brand in the franchise. So let’s say Juan dela Cruz Uber, Maria dela Cruz Grab. But this time around, it’s going to be a common base or a pool which will allow the TNVS dual affiliation, triple, quadruple affiliation if they so desire,” she explained.
The LTFRB official also assured that they will be monitoring Grab’s fare structure to make sure that they would not abuse the current situation, especially now that Uber had already bowed out of the game.
“We are here. We want to assure the riding public that we will be on top monitoring the fare structure of Grab,” Lizada said.
Right now, she said the LTFRB was concerned with building up the transport network vehicles of up to 65,000 ride-hailing service cars that will serve 75 percent of the bookings.
Right now, the numbers are down to 59,000 vehicles that are only able to serve 52 percent of the bookings, Lizada explained.
She also urged Grab to give discounts as a “come-on or goodwill” to the riding public.
“Maybe discounts or lower your rates, or a promo for a certain period. Come-on ninyo sa mga tao na goodwill because right now you have the market, but soon may papasok na tatlo so it will be good to also give out incentives to the riders as well,” Lizada said as she aired a challenge for Grab during the press briefing.
Grab Philippines head Brian Cu said that they hope to finish processing the 2,000 Uber drivers who will be absorbed by Grab.
He also took on Lizada’s dare, and said that Grab will be offering instant discounts to first-time customers, particularly Uber passengers who will be using Grab for the first time.
(Eagle News Service)