There was a time when commuters in Metro Manila had no issue taking public transportation like trains, buses and jeepneys. Those who had a little more cash to spare hailed taxis for the additional comfort and convenience.
In recent years, however, public transport in Metro Manila has deteriorated. The millions who cannot afford their own vehicles find themselves with no other choice but endure the debilitating traffic on board buses piloted by drivers who ignore traffic rules and decency, or trains that are unsafe and unreliable.
Even the once-luxurious taxis have become a less attractive option. The cabs are not maintained well, and most drivers are boorish— refusing to convey passengers headed towards directions inconvenient to them, or demanding additional cash before they even agree to take in the rider.
Faced with all these hassles, hapless middle-class commuters find themselves a yet newer option: internet-based ride-hailing mobile applications like Grab and Uber. These rides provide both convenience and safety—they save one the trouble of standing on the street and waving frantically to catch the attention of drivers, and they provide details about the vehicle and the driver so that their whereabouts can be tracked.
On ordinary days, the cost of these rides are supposed to be reasonable. The problem is that “ordinary” has become relative. On weekends, rainy days and especially during the holiday season, surges in Grab and Uber have become too much—a ride that normally cost P200, for instance, could easily come by for four or five times that amount. Often, too, it becomes difficult to book a ride even when one has agreed to pay the higher-than-usual fares for the price of convenience.
Many commuters are having a taste of these onerous arrangements these days—and they feel powerless against it. What other option is there to get from one place to another in one piece?
In response, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has warned the two companies against taking advantage of the high demand for transport to jack up their prices, going as far as threatening to revoke their licenses. This gives rise to the debate on whether businesses can do whatever they want.
The government did right in calling out the two companies, who must also remember that the business they are in is imbued with public interest.
But if the government wishes to further champion the interest of the public, it must work on improving the transport system altogether, working on all the means by which people go from one place to another. This, so that they do not find themselves pushed to the wall, choosing between suffering indignities or paying unreasonable amounts for a ride.