The Department of Transportation (DOTr) ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to penalize taxi and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers who cancel booked trips of passengers, citing reasons like heavy traffic and long distances.

DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the agency monitors and address the drivers’ “unacceptable” practice of cancelling bookings and other violations, especially during the holiday season.

Lopez said taxis and the Transport Network Companies (TNCs) that cancel booked trips will be sanctioned by the LTFRB.

Lopez also said that they will mandate TNVS operators to submit to the LTFRB the list of drivers who frequently cancel bookings. The LTFRB will likewise create a hotline where the public can report erring and abusive drivers.

He also ordered LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II to thoroughly study the legal basis of surge pricing of trips, either to cancel it or at least defer it during the holiday season.

The DOTr will hold a public consultation with TNVS companies on December 10 to tackle issues regarding surge pricing.

We need to start this December. But I just have to strike a balance right now of either canceling it totally or deferring it. Maybe next year it will be better to implement it without it. We can always cancel it [surge pricing], but again, maybe the ones who will suffer are our passengers, so we need to study hard, and we need to have a good dialogue with TNVS. Again, the drivers—we will see how they will be affected and what alternative measures their companies can provid, Lopez said.