Ang mga TNVS ba ay public utility vehicles?

Kamakailan lamang ay nagkaroon ng public hearing ang Senado tungkol sa mga Transport Network Vehicle Companies at TNVS. Marami kasing nakakarating na reklamo sa mga senador mula “kuto 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.

Pero sa tingin ng LCSP ay 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? Ibig sabihin ay hindi kasama ang TNVS na PUVs. So, ano sila? At kung hindi sila PUVs, may control ba ang LTFRB sa kanila para i regulate bilang public utility vehicles. Paano pumasa sa Kongreso ito? Sino nagpanukala na hindi Public utility vehicles ang TNVS? Ito ba ang depensa ng mga TNC na bakit sila ang mag shoulder ng mga 20% discount sa mga special privilege passengers 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 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

So since TNVS ay hindi PUVs pero engaged pa rin sila sa PUBLIC SERVICE OF PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION ay maari pa rin silang ma classify as public service as a 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.

So 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?