Cheyenne Suarez

Sad Christmas for TNVS drivers over surge pricing cut - group

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

A group believes it’s going to be a sad Christmas for drivers of ride-hailing apps after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposed a cap on surge-pricing from December 17, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Laban TNVS president Jun de Leon said transport network vehicle services (TNVS) drivers were hoping for a fare increase but were hit instead by the surge price cut.“Baka mauwi sa malungkot na Christmas ang ating mga kasamahan na TNVS driver dahil before holiday at maupo si Chair Vigor Mendoza sa LTFRB ay humihirit tayo ng taas pasahe sa TNVS pero ito ang pamasko niya sa atin, bawas pamasahe,” he said in a DZMM interview.“Dahil sa taas ng presyo ng gasolina, sa sobrang traffic, sa dami ng gastusin ng mga parts ng mga sasakyan, akala namin ay makakabawi nitong December pero ito ay malungkot na December ang hinaharap namin.”De Leon said the surge price cut would likely lead to fewer TNVS drivers offering their services during rush hour to avoid traffic. “Ipapahinga na lang nila. Bibiyahe sila kapag tapos na ang rush hour,” he said.For his part, LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the cap on surge pricing is a balancing act between the interests of passengers and the TNVS.“Hindi naman natin tinanggal ‘yung surge pricing, ni-reduce lang natin by 50%. Niregulate natin, dito sa pag-reduce natin, bawal kumaltas ang mga TNC,” he said. He noted that it is the first time that the LTFRB ordered transport network companies not to collect any shares, commissions or service fees from the surge prices.“Pinagbabawalan ang mga TNC na humati pa sa kinokolekta ng ating mga driver. Timebound lang ito. This will only be till January 4. Hindi naman ito forever,” he said.He added: “Pakita nila sa akin kung bakit sila malulugi. Nung pinag-usapan ito during public consultation, wala namang mathematics na ipinakita sa amin.”Under the LTFRB memorandum, surge pricing must not exceed the per kilometer per rate plus the per minute charge of the TNVS.Currently, the hatchback and sub-compact has a flagdown rate of P35, sedan with P45, AUV with P55 and Premium with P145 flagdown rate.The per kilometer rate for hatchback and sub-compact is P13, sedan with P15, AUV with P18 and Premium with P36 per kilometer charge. All of them have P2 per minute travel time except for premium with P4.In the new memo, the LTFRB set a sample computation in order to clear things up with both the passengers and TNVS.If for instance a car/sedan TNVS travelled five kilometers and the travel time is 10 minutes, passenger should pay P75 for the per kilometer rate and P20 for 10-minute travel time—for a total of P95, plus the flag down rate of P45.

It’s going to be a sad Christmas for drivers of ride-hailing apps after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposed a cap on surge-pricing from December 17, 2025 to January 4, 2026.

It’s going to be a sad Christmas for drivers of ride-hailing apps after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposed a cap on surge-pricing from December 17, 2025 to January 4, 2026.