By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Members of the 19th Congress and a transport leader on Tuesday (Feb. 4) called for the regulation of the Transport Network Vehicle System (TNVS) industry.
In the Kapihan sa Eurotel Media Forum hosted by Dr. Danilo Mangahas, Founding Chairman of Euro TV Philippines, and Alvin Pelobello, Cong. Jose ‘Bong’ Teves Jr., House Deputy Majority Leader/TGP (Talino at Galing ng Pilipino) PartyList Representative, said that he agreed with Cong. Suntay and De Leon that there should be a law regulating the TNVS and not to be affected by the change of leadership at the LTFRB.
Teves added that if the drivers themselves shoulder the 20% discount, it would be burdensome for them.
Teves had helped 5,000 drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic from March 15, 2020 until December 2022.
Teves is also proposing to exempt from VAT (Value Added Tax) or free taxes for all medicines.
He cited the MAIP (Medical Assistance for Indigent Persons) and on how to include the “zero billing” in all public and private hospitals nationwide.
“We should monitor our countrymen so that they will not be suffering from poverty, who are the poorest of the poor,” Teves said.
Teves would push for the free taxes for all medicines in the 20th Congress.
“PhilHealth has so many billions of pesos in funds which should be spent for all Filipinos, especially PhilHealth members,” Teves said.
Teves is hoping that all kinds of diseases or illnesses should be covered by PhilHealth without discrimination.
“We have no ‘tooth’ for violators of the mandate of PhilHealth and we have to focus on it. PhilHealth has so much money so much so that it can extend health benefit packages to all Filipinos,” Teves said.
“We are only making referrals for patients for confinement for the consideration of PhilHealth for the availment of proper health packages,” he added.
Teves is proposing that the doctors’ professional fees should be included in MAIP so that there will be a” zero billing”.
Teves is a co-author of the legislated P200 wage increase in the 19th Congress, who took into consideration the cost of living in Manila and Cebu with the increases in the prices of basic goods and services.
Cong. Bong Suntay, President of Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, said that he agreed with the proposal to limit the Motorcycle (MC) taxis so much so that there’s already many stakeholders which are facing problems because of the uncertainty on the policies that are being issued.
Suntay added that there are several transport denominations in the country today, hence, there seems to be antagonism between the drivers and the commuters.
“We need to rationalize the transport sector because if they are not rationalized, it may be troublesome in their routes between the traditional taxis and the TNVS,” Suntay said.
“It can be done. It can be rationalized,” he added.
Suntay noted that LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in the Senate hearing that the 20% discount of Students, and PWDs (persons with disability) should be refunded to the drivers.
He added that the additional taxes being charged for taxi drivers have become burdensome for them.
Suntay said that they had asked for a minimum increase of P20 in the flagdown rate (taxi) in 2017 but in 2020, only P5 was granted in the flagdown rate.
“The traditional taxi will remain in the streets and can co-exist with the TNVS industry,” Suntay said.
Suntay noted that the PhilHealth keeps on increasing its members’ monthly contributions but the benefits seem to be dwindling down each year.
“Proper regulation is a ‘win-win’ solution in the transport industry. It has been proven in other countries,” Suntay said.
“All public utility vehicles are mandated to provide pasi (passenger insurance),” he added.
“All the traditional black taxis in London (England) are hunchback,” Suntay said.
He added that the LTFRB does not even know how many riders are there in the motorcycle taxis.
Leonardo “Jun” De Leon, President of Laban TNVS, said that during the Senate hearing presided over by Senator Raffy Tulfo, the 20% discount of Students, PWDs remains as burden of drivers, which should be shouldered by the operators.
In 2023, the 20% discount was shouldered by the drivers 100% themselves.
A Memorandum Order issued by the LTFRB directed that such 20% discount should be shouldered by the transport companies.
The TNVS started in 2013 and in 2025, the motorcycle taxis (MCs) have become unlimited but should be regulated.
There are now 17,000 Grab taxis, Angkas with unknown number and Move It with 6,000 units.
De Leon added that when the term of district congressmen ends, they are also running as Party-List representatives.
He expressed the hope that in the 20th Congress, there will be a law institutionalizing the transport network vehicle system (TNVS).