The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board over the weekend announced it will issue 100,000 transport network vehicle services or TNVS franchises to accommodate the request of the country’s leading ride-hailing service, Grab.
LTFRB chairman Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III said his agency is also looking at the investment deal proposed by Grab Holdings founder Anthony Tan to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to modernize the transportation system.
Guadiz said the franchises will be open for Grab TNVS servicing Metro Manila.
“(About) 500,000 new jobs will be created from the 100,000 franchises both for four-wheeled and the motorcycle taxi. We will not make it abrupt to prevent market saturation,” the LTFRB chief said partly in the vernacular.
“So initially, 100,000 and increasing further in three months’ time. We may increase the number until such time that the number of TNVS matches the needs of the riding public,” he added.
Guadiz added they are studying the allocation of more TNVS franchises in the provinces starting in Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao.
The agency will issue a list of the requirements for the new franchises, including how drivers and operators could qualify.
Among the requirements for drivers are having a professional driver’s license, and attending a 15-hour seminar on road safety, especially for motorcycle taxis.
The official added that LTFRB believes the franchise will be of big help as it will create more jobs.
The LTFRB also reminded jeepney drivers and operators in the metropolis to form cooperatives so they can avail of benefits and privileges under the public utility vehicle modernization program of the Marcos administration.
Atty. Zona Russet Tamayo, LTFRB Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office Director l for the National Capital Region, said operators and drivers can choose to form a cooperative or establish their own company to join the program.
Tamayo said the new system would make do without the so-called boundary system and in its place would be the drivers getting salaries and benefits from the government.
Freddie Hernandez of the Taguig Transport Service Cooperative said joining the government’s PUVMP will defray the daily expenses of operators and drivers, including those for fuel and maintenance.