By Aerol John Pateña/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged on Friday transportation network companies (TNCs) to exert efforts to ensure that all transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) units on their platform are actively online to address passenger demand.
LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra III noted that most of the TNVS drivers on the system of TNCs are not online on a full-time basis, resulting in the lack of supply for its riders.
“Whatever the numbers are on their system right now that goes to all accredited TNCs di po lahat ay online (most of them are not online). Lower number of those are online anytime. It is up for the TNCs to get the majority of those who are not online to go online to serve demand. Yun po ang kasagutan (That is the solution),” Delgra told reporters.
“What is clear is not all of them accredited to any TNCs are full-time. Kapag lahat ng nasa system (If all TNVS units on their system) are online, there will be no issue on the lack of supply,” he added.
The Board is also opening 10,000 slots for new applications of TNVS units starting June 10 after it opened 20,000 slots last December until June 7.
“After getting provisional authority (PA) or certificates of public convenience (CPC), TNVS applicants would then apply for accreditation with any of the active accredited TNCs. Once accredited and active online, they can start to accept bookings. TNVS may be accredited with more than one TNC,” Delgra said.
The LTFRB has accredited eight TNCs– Ipara Technologies and Solutions Inc, Hirna Mobility Solutions Inc, Hype Transport Systems, Inc, Micab Systems Corp., E-Pick Me Up Inc, GoLag, Aztech Solution, and RYD Global.
The accreditation of Grab Philippines, which has the biggest share of TNVS units, has yet to be renewed.
Data from the LTFRB show that there are 40,522 TNVS units with PAs or CPCs as of May 29.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB has issued a show cause order to Grab last Thursday to explain the deactivation of at least 8,000 TNVS drivers without PAs.
The ridesharing company is set to appear before a hearing of the Board set on June 11.
“The LTFRB regularly sends a report to Grab containing the list of drivers who apply for LTFRB accreditation. Drivers who do not apply at all for a Certificate of Public Convenience should have already been deactivated by Grab per LTFRB order issued months ago,” the LTFRB said in a statement.
There are more than 5,000 unclaimed PAs issued by the LTFRB.
Earlier, Grab said it deactivated the drivers in compliance with the June 7 deadline set by the LTFRB for the application of 20,000 TNVS units, which was opened last December.
The company assured its riders that the inconvenience would be temporary as it anticipates new drivers to apply for 10,000 new slots starting June 10.
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