LTFRB suspends GrabBike service

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered transportation network company (TNC) mytaxi.ph yesterday to stop offering GrabBike as a public transportation service.

LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said the board and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) have not yet promulgated guidelines that would allow the operation of GrabBike.

“The DOTC has not yet allowed motorcycles to be used as (part of the) public transportation system,” Ginez told The Star.

The mytaxi.ph is an authorized TNC of the LTFRB that runs GrabCar transportation network vehicles (TNVs).

The LTFRB and the DOTC previously came up with memorandum circulars and a department order, respectively, that allowed the operation of Uber and GrabCar.

Ginez said the LTFRB will be compelled to cancel the accreditation of mytaxi.ph if it defies the order of the board.

LTFRB board member Ariel Inton said mytaxi.ph can be fined P1 million for operating GrabBike because the service can be considered colorum.