Senator Raffy Tulfo urged ride-hailing company Grab to review its policy requiring partner drivers to shoulder the 20% fare discounts for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) on top of the 20 to 30% platform fee per booking.
This policy results in drivers taking home only 50 to 60% of their earnings per booking, which Tulfo described as unfair.
During a Senate Committee on Public Services hearing on December 10, which he chairs, the lawmaker learned that the policy may be causing drivers to refuse bookings from passengers with special needs. He cited instances where students in a rush have resorted to using multiple accounts to book a Grab ride.
Saturnino Mopas, chairman of TNVS Community Philippines, testified that drivers have been absorbing the 20% discount for the past six months.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III condemned Grab for violating their franchise agreement, saying that the company, not its drivers, should shoulder the discount.
The LTFRB would issue a show-cause order to Grab and warned that the violation could lead to a suspension of its franchise, added Guadiz.IMT
