Grab, Uber drivers file petition to lift moratorium on franchise applications

Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) drivers and operators on Friday formally submitted their petition asking the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to lift the moratorium on accepting franchise applications.

Hosted on online platform change.org, the petition, led by Bobby Coronel, founder of Team Speed, appeals to the government to lift the suspension on accepting franchise applications. It garnered over 120,000 signatures.

The LTFRB on July 21 issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2016-008 directing its technical division not to accept any TNVS application. It said it is reviewing existing policies before granting new TNVS applications.

Meanwhile, the board has yet to lift the moratorium a year after the circular took effect.

Coronel, along with other leaders of TNVS providers — Polo Almazan (Takbong South President), Glenford Artuz (PDCom President), Aylene Paguio (Silangan Autoclub), Glen Jacobe (Team Tiger City), who are representing 12,536 drivers — filed the petition to the office of newly-appointed Road Transport Undersecretary Thomas "Tim" Orbos.

DOTr Usec. Tim Orbos receives the petition from Grab, Uber drivers seeking the LTFRB to lift moratorium on accepting franchise applications pic.twitter.com/PywjJrURWY

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) July 21, 2017

The online petition, which started on July 14, garnered 122,887 signatures from Grab and Uber passengers. It also obtained 2,017 physical signatures.

LOOK: Petition seeking the LTFRB to lift the moratorium on acceptance of TNVS applications pic.twitter.com/AYtkaw7tQ7

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) July 21, 2017

—KBK, GMA News