LTFRB limits number of TNVS vehicles to 45,700

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered a common supply base for the number of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) nationwide, limiting the number of units to 45,700.

In Memorandum Circular 2018-03 released on Thursday, the LTFRB said, "After thorough deliberation by the board, in consultation with Department of Transportation (DOTr) discussing all available data provided by the concerned Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), including their average daily bookings, request bookings and confirmed bookings among others, and considering the number of part-time and full-time drivers, the Board decides to set a common supply base for transport network vehicle services (TNVS)."

The agency has set the following common supply base in the following areas:

•     Metro Manila (45,000 units)
•     Metro Cebu (500 units)
•     Pampanga (200 units)

Common supply base for other urbanized areas, whenever necessary, shall be issued in subsequent issuance by the Board after due diligence studies, the LTFRB said.

It added that all valid and existing Certificate of Public Convenience (CPCs) to operate TNVS and those with pending applications for CPC are deemed included in the common supply base.

The LTFRB, on July 21, 2016, issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2016-008, directing its technical division not to accept any TNVS applications.

Meanwhile, according to LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada, this number would be checked by the agency every three months and that this would evolve.

"Every three months, we need to sit down with the TNCs (transport network companies) to determine what is their 'churning rate,' there is such a thing as 'churning rate' sa mga TNCs pertaining to TNVS, 'yung hindi na gusto tumuloy. That means to say we need to replenish the common base and we need to listen kung ano pa 'yung mga concern nila," Lizada said.

"There will be challenges and concerns but we need to set a common base at this level then we review every three months," Lizada added.

Lizada also said based on their data, there are 125,000 TNVS, but not all are active.

"Meron na ring nagdeactivate diyan. And that we need to know kasi sa ngayon ang hawak lang namin ay active members nila so gauging on what they gave us, nandiyan na rin tayo sa numbers na 'yan," Lizada said.

The said memorandum shall take effect after 15 days. —with Ted Cordero/NB, GMA News