LTFRB told to include seniors, PWDs discount in ride-hailing apps

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is being urged to require transport network companies (TNCs) to integrate automated senior citizen and persons with disability (PWD) discount features into their ride-hailing mobile applications under a resolution approved by the Mandaue City Council.

The Mandaue City Council approved the resolution authored by Councilor Carlo Fortuna, urging the LTFRB to mandate all TNCs operating in the Philippines to incorporate a system that would allow qualified senior citizens and PWDs to conveniently avail of the 20 percent fare discount granted under existing laws.

‘READ: Gov’t readies new discount guidelines for seniors, PWDs

The measure also encourages eligible beneficiaries to register and make use of the privilege.

Fortuna said senior citizens and PWDs are already entitled to a 20 percent discount on public transportation, including transport network vehicles. However, he pointed out that many ride-hailing applications do not provide a straightforward option for passengers to indicate their eligibility or automatically apply the discount during the booking process.

He cited airline and hotel booking platforms as examples, noting that they allow users to declare whether they are senior citizens or PWDs and upload their identification, after which the applicable discount is automatically reflected in the total fare or booking cost.

READ: How to obtain a PWD ID and what are the benefits

According to Fortuna, ride-hailing applications such as Grab, Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It should adopt a similar system to make it easier for qualified passengers to claim the discounts provided by law.

He said integrating the feature into the applications would also help transport network companies comply with their legal obligation to extend fare discounts to senior citizens and PWDs.

“Under the law, kung PWD ug senior citizens ka na kay 20 percent discount….kinahanglan i-require sad sila to provide the discount and make it easier to secure the discount. I-update ilang system [app feature] makita ig book, ” said Fortuna.

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Fortuna said the resolution does not compel transport network companies to immediately implement the feature but formally urges the LTFRB, as the national agency responsible for regulating public transport services, to require its integration across all accredited ride-hailing platforms operating in the country.

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