Philippines lifts Uber one-month suspension after it pays $10 mln in penalties

By Yomna Yasser On Aug 30, 2017

The Philippines lifted its one-month suspension on Uber Technologies ahead of schedule on Tuesday after the ride-hailing firm had paid almost $10 million in a fine and financial aid to its drivers affected by the halted operations.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had halted Uber’s operations for a month from Aug. 14 for violating an order to stop accepting new driver applications.

Uber paid a penalty of 190 million Philippine pesos ($3.72 million), almost 20 times what it had earlier offered to pay, and another 300 million pesos ($5.87 million) as financial assistance to drivers as demanded by the regulator.

“We have complied with the requirements outlined by the LTFRB, and are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Philippines again,” Uber said in a statement. Uber said it resumed its operations in the Southeast Asian country from 0900 GMT.

Uber had previously offered to pay 10 million pesos to get the suspension lifted, even as it said it did not process new applications. It recently said it had nearly 67,000 Philippine drivers.

“It cost Uber close to half a billion pesos for defying government regulations, putting at risk tens of thousands of Uber (drivers) as well as the riding public,” Aileen Lizada, a board member at the transport regulator, told reporters.

The dearth of efficient and reliable public transport services in the Philippines has made Uber a hit with passengers.

Uber had previously offered to pay 10 million pesos to get the suspension lifted, even as it said it did not process new applications. It recently said it had nearly 67,000 Philippine drivers.

The dearth of efficient and reliable public transport services in the Philippines has made Uber a hit with passengers.

Source: Reuters