Uber assures no pass on cost of fine to commuters: LTFRB

Uber has promised not to pass on to commuters the PHP190-million fine it paid to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its suspension to be lifted.
(Photo: Uber/Twitter)

MANILA — Uber has promised not to pass on to commuters the PHP190-million fine it paid to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its suspension to be lifted.

LTFRB board member and spokesperson Aileen Lizada said that the ridesharing firm has committed to issue a statement that it will not pass on the cost of the fine during a technical working group meeting with transportation network companies (TNCs) on Wednesday.

“Uber will issue a statement and committed not to,” Lizada said in a text message to reporters.

The board official made the statement amid concerns that Uber might impose a price surge to recover the costs brought about by the suspension of its operations.

The LTFRB on Tuesday lifted Uber’s one-month suspension after receiving the latter’s payment of the PHP190-million fine, which was remitted to the National Treasury.

It also received a certification from the ridesharing firm’s bank Wells Fargo that it has provided financial assistance worth PHP299.24 million to its 36,367 transport network vehicle services (TNVS) operators nationwide affected by the suspension of its operations from August 15 to 29.

Uber has paid a total of PHP489.24 million to the LTFRB.

The suspension was imposed on the TNC due to its continuing activation of new drivers into its system.