The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday convened a dialogue with 19 Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) platforms operating within the country as a part of efforts to make sure compliance with fare discount mandates for senior residents, individuals with disabilities (PWDs) and students.
The initiative follows reports of noncompliance with the Expanded Senior Residents Act and the Magna Carta for Disabled Individuals, which entitle seniors and PWDs to twenty% fare discounts, in addition to reported violations of comparable guidelines for college students.
In the course of the dialogue, Grab Philippines reiterated the steps it has undertaken to comply with the said laws, and highlighted the systems it has put in place inside its app to be sure that discounts are accessible to passengers entitled to them.
Meanwhile Russian-founded ride-hailing service inDrive, which resumed operations within the Philippines in June 2024, provided updates on its compliance initiatives, including the official launch of discounts for qualified passengers on its platform starting Dec. 18, 2024.
In a press release, the Coalition of Filipino Commuters (CFC) emphasized the necessity for the LTFRB to “implement a uniform application of government-mandated discounts for college students, senior residents, and individuals with disabilities across all digital ride-hailing platforms.” The group underscored the importance of such discounts, citing accessibility and inclusivity as key advantages for vulnerable sectors of society.
The LTFRB has earlier reminded drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs), in addition to TNVS firms to completely comply with laws that reach 20% discounts to senior residents, PWDs and students.
Last December, LTFRB Chairman Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III lamented that “despite the clear guidelines, reports of non-compliance have prompted the agency to take motion.”
Mr. Guadiz stressed that refusal to honor the government-mandated discounts “go against the law and are a disservice to commuters.”
He likewise reminded PUV and TNVS operators that violations of the special passenger discount guidelines carry fines and penalties, including suspension or revocation of franchises for repeat offenders.
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