How celebrities reacted to LTFRB crackdown on Uber, Grab
Celebrities have found themselves livid after a government crackdown threatens to make booking an Uber or Grab ride significantly more difficult come next week.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is ordering both companies to deactivate some 50,000 of its drivers, as part of the agency’s crackdown on illegal ride-sharing operations.
Starting July 26, Uber and Grab drivers who are caught operating without a certificate of public convenience or provisional authority will be apprehended.
Reaction to the order on social media has been feisty, with many pointing out that the LTFRB has suspended the issuance of new driver applicants for about a year now. Only 3,000 Uber and Grab drivers are authorized by the LTFRB.
Others criticized the agency for targeting a service, which they have deemed more dependable than other means of public transport such as the jeepney and regular taxis.
Coleen Garcia joined this chorus of boos by sharing on Twitter a story on how she nearly got kidnapped while she was riding a taxi along EDSA.
I used to ride regular taxis alone every single day to get around, and on most days, they did NOT make me feel safe. #WeWantUberGrab
— Coleen Garcia (@coleengarcia) July 17, 2017
In fact, I always tell the story of how I almost got kidnapped while riding a taxi alone, in the middle of EDSA. #WeWantUberGrab
— Coleen Garcia (@coleengarcia) July 17, 2017
Used to ride w drivers who didn’t make me feel safe. Some were rude & obnoxious, some cat-called, some demanded more money. #WeWantUberGrab
— Coleen Garcia (@coleengarcia) July 17, 2017
Über and Grab have made commuting so much safer, easier, and more convenient. Anyone who actually uses them would know. #WeWantUberGrab
— Coleen Garcia (@coleengarcia) July 17, 2017
Not an endorser but I’ve personally experienced their convenience &good service. HOW are they not safer? I don’t understand. #WeWantUberGrab
— Coleen Garcia (@coleengarcia) July 17, 2017
It’s not right to blame Über and Grab for the traffic. They are not solely to blame. There are other factors. Ahem ahem pic.twitter.com/BU5Fw9eXY7
— Coleen Garcia (@coleengarcia) July 17, 2017
Enchong Dee, Saab Magalona, actor Benjamin Alves, and famous film critic Philbert Dy all took a swipe at an alleged quote from an LTFRB official, which claimed that riding authorized jeepneys, taxis, and buses are “safer.”
Pera Pera nalang😤 pic.twitter.com/22uYvum93r
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) July 17, 2017
Yeah it isn’t as safe as a taxi, bus, or jeepney. It’s safer.
— BENJAMIN ALVES (@benxalves) July 17, 2017
When the government says that buses and taxis are safer than Uber and Grab, you know for a fact they don’t know shit.
— Saab (@saabmagalona) July 17, 2017
Do the top people at the LTFRB ride taxis, jeepneys and buses? Or use public transport at all?
— Phil Dy (@philbertdy) July 17, 2017
Taxi’s and Jeepneys more safe than Grab/Uber?? pic.twitter.com/5zLt2Bd0s7
— △lexander ♚ (@alexandermcdizz) July 18, 2017
Beauty queen Megan Young said she will consider public transportation over Uber and Grab if it was “more efficient.”
I use Uber and Grab because I love the service they provide. If public transportation were more efficient, I’d use it! #WeWantGrabUber
— Megan Young (@meganbata) July 18, 2017
A petition on Change.org for the government to lift the accreditation suspension has gained 100,000 signatures as of Tuesday.
(Article and Images from news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment)
