Gatchalian seeks to institutionalize TNVS to strengthen passenger protection

MANILA: In his Senate Bill (SB) No. 817, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian claimed that standardized transport network vehicle services (TNVS) will promote the growth of transport services and guarantee the safety of both passengers and drivers.

“The development of the transport network services industry could also reduce the volume of vehicles on the road and thus help ease traffic congestion especially in metropolitan areas. The proposed measure allows TNVS to offer ridesharing services to help decongest roads,” Gatchalian stated.

According to Gatchalian, a recent study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency found that if no action is taken, the Philippines is expected to lose P5.4 billion per day to traffic by 2035.

While the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has been given full authority by the Department of Transportation to regulate and oversee transport network companies (TNCs) and TNVS, Gatchalian asserted that implementing rules and regulations that would govern the industry is still necessary.

“Importante para sa pag-unlad ng bansa na mapalago natin ang mga makabagong transport system. Kailangan nating maglagay ng mga mekanismo na magpapaunlad sa industriya kasama ang mga transport network service at magbibigay proteksyon sa mga pasahero (It is important for the growth of the country that we develop our modern transport system. We need to have mechanisms that will develop the industry, including transport network service, and provide protection to the passengers),” Gatchalian said.

SB 817 aims to define TNCs and TNVS, as well as to clarify their roles as common carriers.

TNCs and TNVS cannot avoid liability by claiming that they are only a technological platform to link the passenger with the driver because they are bound by a contract of carriage once a passenger uses their service.

Photo from Philippine News Agency

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