LTFRB Resumes Processing of TNVS Applications

As promised, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has resumed the processing of transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) applications last Monday, March 5.  Originally, the processing of new applications for TNVS units was to start on February 5 but Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade‘s postponed to give the agency time to review an LTFRB-issued memorandum which would have restricted the total number of TNVS units nationwide to just 45,700.

According to the LTFRB, around 300 applicants were processed last March 5 and that it is set to meet and discuss with transportation network companies (TNCs) their proposal for additional TNVS units.

"Based on the information given to us by Technical Division, we were done with the releasing of 300 applications before 2 p.m. For the first day, we are happy with the flow. The application process was orderly and most of the TNVS had complete requirements. There were just a few who lack documents. But at least majority of them we were able to process their documents today," LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada said in a text message to reporters.

The LTFRB will process 300 applications daily, with 150 slots each for Grab and Uber. Uber is appealing for additional 25,000 partner drivers to be accredited by the LTFRB to address the rising demand of its riders. The ride-sharing firm has 10,000 partners with all the necessary permits, and it plans to raise that number by as much as 25,000 more according to Uber head of Public Policy Yves Gonzales.

Last February, the LTFRB has issued its memorandum increasing the common supply base for TNVS units at 66,750 units nationwide.

Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. ‎2018-005, the common supply base is as follows: Metro Manila--65,000 TNVS units; Metro Cebu--1,500 TNVS units; Pampanga--250 TNVS units

The number of the common supply base was set by the Board considering various factors such as unserved demand, number coding scheme and churning rate or the number of inactive drivers for the past few months. It will be reviewed every three months.

There are 59,020 accredited TNVS units for both Uber and Grab whose Certificates of Public Convenience were not processed by the LTFRB due to the moratorium on applications last July 2017.