KAMAKAILAN lamang ay nagkaroon ng public hearing ang Senado tungkol sa mga Transport Network Vehicle Companies at TNVS. Marami kasing nakararating na reklamo sa mga senador mula “kuto na diumano’y 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.
Pero sa tingin ng Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection o LCSP ay mahalagang sagutin muna ang tanong na “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? Ibig sabihin ay hindi kasama ang TNVS na PUVs. So, ano sila? At kung hindi sila PUVs, may control ba ang Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board sa kanila para i-regulate bilang public utility vehicles? Paano pumasa sa Kongreso ito? Sinong nagpanukala na hindi Public utility vehicles ang TNVS? Ito ba ang depensa ng mga TNC na bakit sila ang kailangang bumalikat ng 20% discount sa mga special privilege passenger, eh app lang sila at hindi operator ng TNVS? Pero sabi ng LTFRB na sa kanilang memorandum circular, TNC dapat magbigay ng discount.
Pero balik tayo sa batas. Kung hindi PUVs ang TNVS, ano ito?
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 TNVS ay hindi PUVs pero engaged pa rin sila sa PUBLIC SERVICE OF PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION ay maaari pa rin silang ma-classify as public service as a public utility pero may prosesong dapat sundin. Ano yun? (MAY KARUGTONG)
