Uber pays fine and drivers, now back in full swing
Netizens from all over the metro breathed a collective sigh of relief (and probably celebrated) when they read the news on social media: Uber is back.
In a post on their official Facebook page and Twitter account, transport network company Uber said they were “excited to announce that we’re now able to serve Filipinos again.”
https://www.facebook.com/uberpilipinas/photos/a.229471093890841.1073741828.219309621573655/783316845172927/?type=3&theater
https://twitter.com/Uber_PH/status/902464007344275458
Uber formally resumed their services at 5 pm yesterday, August 29, after paying a hefty Php 190-million fine, or Php 10 million for every day they were supposed to serve their suspension.
https://www.facebook.com/ltfrb.citizen.enforcer/videos/1937289546512964/
They were also asked to show proof of having paid all of their 36,367 transport network vehicle services (TNVS) operators what they would have earned during the first 15 days of their suspension, which topped out at Php 299.24 million. The near Php 300 million dole-out to drivers was calculated based on Uber’s average daily earnings.
Uber’s operations were suspended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) last August 14 for violating an order to stop accepting new vehicle applications.
Prior to the near-half a billion pesos they spent while being suspended, they were slapped with a Php 5 million fine imposed by the LTFRB for allowing colorum vehicles, i.e. TNVS not registered with the regulatory board, to operate.
“Imposing the fine on Uber was a painful decision for us pero ginawa lang namin ang trabaho namin,” said LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada. She also said the Php 190 million they received from Uber will go directly to the National Treasury.
Source: CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Rappler, The Manila Times
