The LTFRB holds dialogue with 19 ride-hailing platforms, ensuring compliance with special discounts for passengers

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday called for dialogue with 19 Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) platforms operating in the country as part of efforts to ensure compliance with the fare discount rules for the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and students.

The move follows reports of non-compliance with the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which gives the elderly and disabled 20% fare discounts, and similar violations for students.

During the interview, Grab Philippines reiterated the steps it has taken to comply with the said laws, and highlighted the systems it has put in place within its app to ensure that the discounts are accessible to its passengers.

Meanwhile Russian ride-hailing service inDrive, which resumed operations in the Philippines in June 2024, provided updates on its compliance plans, including the official launch of qualified passenger discounts on its site starting Dec. 18, 2024.

In a statement, the Coalition of Filipino Commuters (CFC) stressed the need for the LTFRB to “enforce the uniform application of government-mandated discounts for students, seniors, and persons with disabilities in all digital ride-hailing platforms.” The group emphasized the importance of such discounts, citing accessibility and inclusiveness as key benefits for vulnerable sectors of society.

The LTFRB earlier reminded drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs), as well as TNVS firms to fully comply with the rules that extend 20% discounts to the elderly, disabled and students.

Last December, LTFRB Chairman Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III lamented that “despite clear guidelines, reports of non-compliance have prompted the agency to take action.”

Mr. Guadiz stressed that refusing to honor the discounts approved by the government is “against the law and is an insult to passengers.”

He also reminded PUV and TNVS operators that violations of the special passenger discount guidelines have fines and penalties, including suspension or revocation of franchises for repeat offenders.

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