Public utility vehicle (PUV) operators may now begin service as soon as their provisional permits appear in the government’s online system, a move Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) officials said Sunday will put more transport options on the road for the holiday rush.

To recall, the LTFRB previously required drivers to possess a physical copy of their Provisional Authority before operating. Under Board Resolution 388, operators of jeepneys, buses, and transport network vehicle services can now hit the road once their document is uploaded to the agency’s online verifier.

LTFRB chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said the change complies with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which mandates the streamlining of government transactions.

“We need the Provisional Authority to be uploaded first on the verifier system for the protection of the drivers and operators,” Mendoza said. “If they are flagged down, enforcers can easily verify they have legitimate papers to operate.”

The policy shift is also part of Mendoza’s effort to clear a backlog of more than 37,000 petitions and applications he identified after taking office in October.

Mendoza said the timing is critical as the agency prepares for the influx of passengers during the Christmas and New Year period.