MANILA - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) decision to suspend Grab's P2 per minute travel charge has significantly reduced the income of drivers and operators, a TNVS partner-driver group leader said Tuesday.

Grab driver-partner representative Janina Pineda turned emotional at a dialogue with lawmakers as she shared the plight of TNVS drivers and operators following the suspension of the P2 per minute travel charge.

"Wala na po akong naiuuwi," said Pineda, a single mom who rely on driving as her main source of income.

• LTFRB suspends Grab's P2-per-minute extra charge

Since the suspension, Pineda said drivers and operators earned only a net average of P655 per day from driving 17 to 18 hours from P1,588 per day doing the same amount of work with the travel charge.

Grab drivers who have to remit "boundary," earn much less at an average of P155 a day, after boundary fee, gas, food, internet, and Grab commission have been taken out from their gross earnings.

"Dati I can pay my bills even with just one week of driving but now I haven't paid my Meralco bills yet because I'm not earning," Pineda told Rep. Jericho Nograles in a meeting at the House of Representatives.

Pineda explained that with an P18,000 gross weekly revenue, drivers and operators have to spend P6,000 on gas, P3,000 for the monthly amortization of the car, P1,200 for the food, P270 for internet access and P3,600 for the 20 percent share of Grab.

Another TNVS group leader Marvin de Leon, shared that some Grab operators and drivers are now considering leaving the operations, since they are not earning enough.

The LTFRB has suspended the P2 per minute travel charge since April. The ride-hailing firm Grab has a pending petition with the LTFRB to reimpose the charge.

• Grab seeks restoration of P2-per-minute charge