LTFRB accelerates TNVS regularization process

Thousands of ride-hailing drivers operating without official permits under temporary arrangements will receive an additional 30 days to apply for regularization, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Friday.

The extension follows directives from Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to ensure affected drivers have adequate time to secure valid operating authority and comply with transport regulations.

LTFRB acting chairperson Greg G. Pua Jr. said the online application window, which opened 8 October and was initially scheduled for 30 working days, will be extended by another 30 days.

To date, the agency has received 13,216 applications and issued 5,091 provisional authorities. Pua noted that the LTFRB is expediting the processing of pending submissions to bring unpermitted drivers into the formal regulatory framework.

The temporary “tempo” practice involves Transport Network Companies (TNCs) onboarding private vehicles onto their digital dispatch platforms before the owners obtain official Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) franchises from the LTFRB.

Operating without agency clearance violates national land transportation regulations.

“Our regularization move is aimed at helping thousands of TNVS drivers whose only fault was that they relied in good faith on their onboarding and assumed substantial financial commitments in the process,” Pua said.

Pua advised applicants to submit complete and verified documentation to prevent processing delays or application rejections, particularly regarding vehicle ownership records.

The LTFRB introduced administrative adjustments to address technical issues in its online application portal and encouraged applicants encountering system difficulties to seek in-person assistance at the agency’s headquarters.