LTFRB raises cap on TNVS units to 66,750

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has set a new common supply base of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) units to 66,750, saying that this will be able to serve 75 percent of the demand.

In Memorandum Circular 2018-005, LTFRB board members resolved to revise the common supply base as follows: 65,000 units for Metro Manila, 1,500 units for Metro Cebu, and 250 units for Pampanga.

The circular will largely affect TNVS affiliated with ride-hailing companies Grab Philippines and Uber Philippines.

“The TNVS will be able to serve 75 percent of the bookings ... Dapat mas mabilis na ang serbisyo niyo at wala na sana ang cancellation,” LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said in a press conference on Monday.

The new common supply base allows 20,000 more cars in Metro Manila, 1,000 in Metro Cebu, and 50 in Pampanga.

Lizada said the LTFRB raised the cap based on demand, the number coding scheme and "churning rate peculiar to TNVS operations, all for the paramount interest of the riding public."

There are 59,020 TNVS units plying the roads of Metro Manila based on a reconciled master list of a third-party audit team.

Last month, the board issued another circular placing the common supply base for TNVS nationwide at 45,700.

In the latest circular, the board also allowed hatchback models to operate within Metro Manila, but are prohibited from operating in Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite.

“Hatchback units shall be accepted to a transition period of three (3) years in order for the peers to recoup their investment,” the memorandum said.

TNVS drivers using hatchbacks will charge lower fare rates to be approved by the LTFRB.

TNVS applicants will be allowed to “replace or drop and substitute their accredited vehicles with year models from 2012 and earlier within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Circular.”

Lizada said the LTFRB will issue stickers for “enforcement purposes” after the provisional authority is released. The Land Transportation Office will issue different plates for TNVS.

“They will be assigning another color for the TNVS, not the rainbow plate. Ang rainbow plate ay nakalagay ‘yan sa tourist transport shuttle or sa mga toursits cars or tourists bus. A different color will be assigned to the TNVS,” Lizada said.

The memorandum takes effect on February 28. —VDS, GMA News