Philippines becomes first country to create rules for ridesharing services such as Uber

The Philippines has made technology-based ridesharing services like Uber legal, providing a regulatory framework for them to operate in the country.

The Philippines’ Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) today enacts an order to create the new category of transport known as “Transportation Network Companies (TNCs),” which provide app-based services connecting private vehicle owners or drivers with people looking for a ride.

“We view technological innovation as a driver for progress, especially in transportation where it can provide safer and more convenient commuting options to the public. App-based transport services help address the increasing demand for mobility spurred by rapid urbanization,” says DOTC secretary Jun Abaya in a statement posted on the agency’s website.

The move essentially allows Uber and similar services to “exist within our regulatory framework,” adds Abaya.

Uber praises this “historic” development and says it makes the Philippines the first country to create a national dedicated framework for ridesharing. Uber offers peer-to-peer service UberX and limo-esque UberBlack in the Philippines. “This first-of-its-kind order is a shining example of how collaboration between government and industry can advance urban mobility, create new economic opportunity, and put rider safety first,” notes Uber senior vice president of policy and strategy David Plouffe.

Uber’s fate in the Philippines bucks its status in other Asian markets. In Seoul, for instance, Uber was forced to suspend its UberX service due to ongoing tensions with the government. In China, regulators are also up in arms against Uber and similar services. The Singapore government, for its part, has put pen to paper but has yet to recognize Uber and its ilk as entirely new forms of transportation.

While the Philippines may be the first country in Asia to enforce specific rules for TNCs, it only takes cue from jurisdictions abroad such as California in the US. California was the first US state to classify Uber and similar services as Transportation Network Companies.

The Philippine order follows months-long public consultations to figure out how to regulate Uber’s operations. Uber was under fire from taxi operators who wanted the tech company banned. Initially yielding to pressure, Philippine regulators launched a sting operation against Uber that backfired. The sting operation sparked public outrage, prompting regulators to take a second look at technology-based transport services.

See: Philippines weighs options for regulating Uber after public outcry against crackdown

Abaya says his department collaborated closely with concerned tech companies in crafting regulations for the new public transport category. “[We believe these regulations] will motivate current PUV (public utility vehicle) operators to modernize, upgrade, and innovate as well.”

Requirements for TNCs

The DOTC details certain standards for companies falling under the TNC category. For a vehicle to qualify, it must have GPS tracking and navigation devices, and must be seven years old or below. Only sedans, Asian Utility Vehicles, Sports Utility Vehicles, and vans will be considered.

Vehicle owners will be required to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience for every vehicle to ensure accountability. Drivers must be screened and accredited by the TNCs and registered with the DOTC’s attached agency, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.