Kamakailan lang ay nagkaroon ng public hearing ang Senado tungkol sa mga Transport Network Vehicle Companies (TNVS) na tinatawag din nating Habal-habal o motorcycle taxi. Marami kasing reklamo sa mga senador “na di umano nakukuha sa paggamit ng helmet sa motorcycle taxis hanggang sa sino ang dapat magbigay ng mga Senior/Student/PWD discount – ang TNC ba o operator/driver ng TNVS.
Sa tingin ng Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP), mahalagang sagutin muna ang tanong: “Ang TNVS ba ay public utility vehicles?
Ayon sa Republic Act no. 11659 “An Act Amending Commonwealth Act no. 146 otherwise known as the Public Service Act, as amended, Section 2 (K).
“Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) refer to internal combustion engine vehicles that carry passengers and/or domestic cargo for a fee offering services to the public, namely trucks-for-hire, UV express service, public utility buses (PUBs), public utility jeepneys (PUJs) tricycles, filcats, and taxis. PROVIDED, THAT TRANSPORT VEHICLES ACCREDITED WITH AND OPERATING THROUGH TRANSPORT NETWORK CORPORATIONS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED AS PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES.
Ha? Hindi kasama ang TNVS na PUVs? So, ano sila? At kung hindi sila PUVs, may control ba ang LTFRB para i-regulate sila?
Paano pumasa sa Kongreso ito? Sino’ng nagpanukala na hindi PUVs ang TNVS? Ito ba ang depensa ng mga TNC? Bakit nga naman sila magbibigay ng special privilege sa passengers, eh, app lang sila at hindi operator?
Pero sabi ng LTFRB na sa kanilang memorandum circular, TNC dapat ang magbigay ng discount.
Balik tayo sa batas. Kung hindi PUVs ang TNVS ano sila?
Sa Section 4 section 13 (d) ay “Public Utility refers to a PUBLIC SERVICE that operates, manages or controls FOR PUBLIC USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
(6) Public Utility Vehicles
Since hindi PUVs Ang TNVS pero engaged pa rin sa PUBLIC SERVICE OF PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION, maari pa rin silang ma-classify as public utility pero may prosesong dapat sundin. Ano yun?
Sec. 4 (e)
UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA), THE PRESIDENT MAY RECOMMEND TO CONGRESS THE CLASSIFICATION OF A PUBLIC SERVICE AS A PUBLIC UTILITY.
Dapat may NEDA approval pa?
Buti na lang, may ganitong provision ang batas para i-regulate pa rin ng LTFRB ang mga TNC at TNVS.
ALL PUBLIC SERVICES, including those classified as public utilities under this Act, shall continue to be regulated and supervised by the relevant Administrative Agencies.
A public service which is not classified as a public utility under this Act shall be considered a business affected with public interest for purposes of Sections 17 and 18 of Article XII of the Constitution.
Parang pinaikot ikot pa, samantalang mas malinaw kung ang TNVS ay KLARONG IDAGDAG na public utility vehicle para hindi na kailangan na dumaan sa mahabang proseso.
Sino kaya ang nagpanukala ng “provided, that the transport vehicles accredited with and operating through transport network corporations SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED AS PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES?
Ariel Antonio EI
