The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday vowed to end the illegal practice of operating ride-hailing vehicles using so-called temporary permits.

LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II clarified that the agency does not issue temporary permits and that any Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) or public transport driver claiming to have one is operating illegally.

“There is no such thing as tempo or temporary permits. This so-called tempo is fake. The LTFRB either only issues provisional authority or authority to operate,” Mendoza said.

He urged Transport Network Companies (TNCs) to police their ranks and ensure that all TNVS units on their platforms are fully compliant with government regulations.

“We already put a stop on this illegal practice right after my meeting with TNCs last month. But we keep on receiving complaints that there are still a handful of TNVS defying our warning on the use of this so-called tempo,” Mendoza said.

The “tempo” scheme involves the issuance of alleged temporary permits in exchange for fees and commissions, a practice transport groups say has become a source of corruption within the agency. Transport groups have long complained that the system is tantamount to colorum operations.

In response, Mendoza, backed by Secretary Lopez, launched a crackdown on the scheme as part of efforts to increase the earnings of legitimate drivers and operators.

The campaign against “tempo” is being carried out alongside intensified anti-colorum operations nationwide. Transport groups estimate that colorum vehicles reduce their daily income by as much as 30 percent, making the crackdown an added measure of income protection.

Mendoza said monitoring will also extend to other public transport platforms, alongside strengthened intelligence-gathering against LTFRB personnel allegedly colluding with illegal TNVS operators.

“Let this serve as a warning to all TNCs that we will not hesitate to cancel your authority to operate if we find out that you are tolerating and doing nothing to address this. Hindi makaka-operate ang mga ito kung gagawin ninyo ng ayos ang inyong trabaho dahil ginagamit ng mga tiwaling TNVS ang online platform ninyo,” Mendoza said.

He added that the LTFRB is fast-tracking pending applications—more than 30,000 as monitored last month—as part of his commitment to eliminate the agency’s backlog and prevent TNVS from resorting to illegal means.

“And let this warning also reach erring LTFRB personnel that you would not only be dismissed, you would also face criminal charges once we catch you,” he emphasized.