UTOL aims to become transportation game changer

UTOL aims to become transportation game changer | Daily Tribune

A fast-rising Filipino-owned transport network company promises to change the landscape of the country’s ride hailing app.

UTOL (Unified Transport Operations League) aims to change the ride-hailing experience by providing safer, more accessible and more inclusive services.

“Utol’s main goal would be for every Juan to ride, while for our drivers, every Juan can drive with pride,” UTOL head of Legal Atty. Orly Ocampo said in a recent interview with the Daily Tribune.

Unlike foreign-owned competitors, UTOL was built by Filipinos for Filipinos. It understands the daily struggles of local drivers and passengers, especially those who feel shortchanged by the existing transport system.

UTOL’s founders — Rolando Maningas and Atty. Orly Ocampo — saw an opportunity not just to run a business but to create a setting where both drivers and riders feel valued and empowered.

UTOL’s story began in 2017 when Maningas, who also manages a car rental business, noticed a growing demand for better working conditions among independent contractors and operators.

Many of them had previously worked under other transport network companies, juggling multiple ride-hailing gigs just to make ends meet.

“Before they joined [our company], they were contractors for a different TNC. Post-duty, they would also service other TNCs, even during their days off,” Maningas shared.

Recognizing the need for a fairer and more sustainable ride-hailing model, UTOL was launched with the goal of giving drivers more control over their livelihood.

It particularly opens its doors to displaced jeepney drivers who are looking for alternative ways to earn.

“All they (jeepney drivers) have to learn is to operate the app. Second, they have to get used to having one or two passengers now since they’re transitioning to cars,” Maningas explained.

But UTOL is more than just another ride-hailing company — it’s an advocate for drivers’ welfare. The company recently partnered with the Social Security System to help independent drivers subscribe to a benefits program, ensuring they have financial security despite their self-employed status.

Beyond that, UTOL also offers a car ownership program that allows drivers to eventually own their units through partnerships with dealerships and financing institutions. By helping drivers transition from renters to owners, UTOL ensures that their hard work leads to long-term stability.

With UTOL joining the ranks of accredited ride-hailing services, competition in the industry is becoming tougher. But the company is confident that it has unique features that set it apart — starting with safety.

“[The] UTOL [app] has a built-in help button for drivers in case they find themselves in danger with their passengers. The same goes for passengers if they sense something unusual with their drivers,” Maningas said.

With just two clicks, the emergency button sends an alert to UTOL’s command center, which immediately notifies the closest driver in the vicinity. If law enforcement is needed, the command center facilitates the emergency call.

On the accessibility front, UTOL ensures that students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens receive a 20 percent discount on fares — without placing the financial burden on drivers.

Looking ahead, the company is also working on additional features, including two-wheeler rides for quicker and more affordable trips, pickup and delivery services, and advanced booking options in partnership with hotels and government agencies. Motorcycle taxi services remain pending regulatory approval, but once the Department of Transportation finalizes guidelines, UTOL is ready to launch.

Currently operating in Metro Manila and Davao, UTOL has its sights set on expanding to the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in Cebu, Bohol, Tacloban, and Bacolod — areas where ride-hailing demand is growing.

“If we compare the franchise volume in Manila to Mindanao and Visayas,’ the LTFRB has open franchise slots in those regions, so anyone who wants to start a TNC business can immediately avail one in any of those areas,” Ocampo said.

He noted that in Manila, all 5,000 franchise slots recently opened by the LTFRB were quickly filled, but UTOL remains hopeful that additional slots will be made available soon.

Beyond expansion, UTOL also plans to establish a drivers’ academy to further train its partners in road safety, customer service, and professional development.

“We noticed that we need to continuously educate our drivers on their jobs so they can better make use of their skills as means to earn a livelihood, and so that they’d be reminded that their line of work is no easy task. Lives are at stake in this business,” Maningas explained.

With its commitment to driver welfare, passenger safety, and community-driven service, UTOL is more than just another ride-hailing app. It embodies the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan on wheels, where every ride is a chance to uplift a fellow Filipino.