The current commuters’ ordeal caused by difficulty in getting rides, notably during the activity-filled holiday season, has caught up with the sorely lacking public transportation, especially in Metro Manila.
Thus, "the government should lose no time in pulling together an efficient coordination with transport providers to ensure that adequate public utility vehicles (PUVs) are on the road to safely and comfortably bring our people to their destination," Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate public services committee, said.
Poe made the call following reports on social media of some motorcycle riders of Angkas and Joyride who have resorted to contracting passengers instead of going through the proper booking process through the app where they are registered.
Some social media users have also complained that some Grab drivers are cancelling some bookings, forcing some passengers to pay extra just to avoid rebooking.
Poe emphasized that it is not yet too late for transportation officials to work something out to deploy more public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as buses to help ease commuters’ woes as they wait long hours before getting a ride.
‘’Concerned government agencies and private ride-hailing companies must also quickly act on complaints of contracting, overcharging and cancellations of bookings done by some ruthless riders preying on hapless commuters,’’ Poe said.
Poe pointed out that the unscrupulous acts by some riders are unfair to their fellows who eke out a living through honest and decent means, and to passengers who are not supposed to spare extra cash for the service.
“The holiday season must not become a travel nightmare for millions of our people,” the lawmaker stressed.