LTFRB issues provisional authority to 638 'tempo' TNVS

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued notices of hearing and provisional authority to 638 temporary ride-hailing drivers as part of an ongoing 30-day regularization program, the agency reported Sunday.

The application window for Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers operating under "tempo" status opened 8 October and will run for 30 calendar days.

As of Sunday, the LTFRB received 9,036 applications, with 638 applicants granted provisional authority to continue operating legally while their full applications undergo review.

"We are on the right track of the regularization process," LTFRB acting chairperson Greg Pua Jr. said.

"We encourage all applicants to complete the requirements stated in their account and appeal to the remaining TNVS partners with tempo status to apply as soon as possible," he added.

In the ride-hailing industry, "tempo" refers to the practice of transport network companies onboarding drivers onto digital platforms before those drivers secure official permits from regulatory authorities.

The regularization initiative aims to assist drivers who joined ride-hailing platforms in good faith and took on vehicle financing loans, but faced potential loss of income due to regulatory noncompliance by platform operators.

Pua clarified that while the filing period closes after 30 days, applicants who submit complete paperwork before the deadline will continue to have their notices of hearing and provisional authority processed beyond that timeframe.

He also urged ride-hailing companies not to deactivate temporary drivers while the government works to regularize their status.

"The reason why we are taking this measure is to ensure that they will not lose their job and source of income for their families," Pua said. "We ask the TNCs not to deactivate their tempo partners and provide assistance instead by making everything easy for them to comply on time."