LTFRB receives over 5K ride-hailing driver regularization applications
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) received 5,645 applications during the first 24 hours of its online registration drive to legalize ride-hailing drivers operating without formal permits, agency officials announced Friday.
The regulatory board opened its online portal Thursday to process unauthorized drivers operating under informal “tempo” arrangements across ride-hailing platforms, including Grab and JoyRide.
LTFRB acting chairperson Greg Pua Jr. confirmed during a radio interview that the agency transitioned to an online application model to prevent overcrowding at regional offices and minimize operational downtime for drivers.
“That is one of the reasons why we were late in opening the regularization, which we had long planned for those they call ‘tempo’ drivers,” Pua said.
“That is why we made sure our system could handle the applications. We will adjust if we see that it is getting congested,” he added.
Pua cited that accepting manual paperwork risked creating massive queues and parking congestion around the agency’s central office, while forcing drivers off the road during business hours.
Under the regularization framework, eligible drivers can secure formal operating permits — such as a Provisional Authority or a Certificate of Public Convenience — enabling them to access mandatory passenger accident insurance coverage while avoiding heavy fines and vehicle impoundment associated with illegal colorum transport operations.
Regulators stressed that the amnesty program applies strictly to existing informal drivers previously onboarded by transportation network companies without regulatory approval, rather than new industry entrants.
“This is the only group that can join the regularization. Tempo does not apply to new vehicles,” Pua said.
To verify eligibility, the LTFRB cross-referenced master lists submitted by ride-hailing companies against its internal databases to ensure only established drivers receive formal franchises.