Uber applies for accreditation before August 20 deadline

ONLINE-based transportation service provider Uber has filed for accreditation as a Transportation Network Company (TNC) before the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Monday afternoon, LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said.

Ginez, in a dzMM interview, said that Uber’s application is still subject for review of the LTFRB.

Upon the approval of their application, Uber’s partner drivers will be required to apply for a one-year franchise.

GrabCar, another application-based transportation service provider, became the first to apply for accreditation as a TNC last May.

Application fee for Uber, GrabCar and other TNCs is P520.00 for first two units and P70.00 for each succeeding unit.

Last August 10, Ginez announced that it will apprehend unregistered or “colorum” TNCs and their partner cars starting August 20.

The Transportation Network Vehicle System, where Uber and GrabCar are clustered, was launched by the LTFRB last May.

The crackdown on unregistered Uber and GrabCar units generated discussions online as some netizens alleged that the Aug. 20 deadline was meant to drive Uber and GrabCar out of business with the introduction of the “Premium Taxis” by the LTFRB.

Ginez clarified that Premium Taxi will not be owned by the LTFRB but it is an app-based transport vehicle category operated by private operators.

Premium Taxi differs from TNCs because they will be allowed to do street pick-ups and will have yellow plates aside from operating on a per-booking basis.

Cars under the Premium Taxi category should be sedans which have an engine displacement of 2.0 or higher. Operators should have a minimum fleet of 25 units to be considered for Premium Taxi category.

LTFRB estimates that the combined fleet of Uber and GrabCar amount to 10,000 units.