LTFRB eyes generic franchise for Grab, Uber, U-Hop

Within the month, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will come out with new regulations governing the app-based transport industry, including the extension of the validity of franchises given to drivers and the establishment of a common pool.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said that by coming up with a common pool for providers of transport network vehicle services (TNVS), drivers would no longer be exclusive to transport network companies (TNCs) Grab, Uber and U-Hop.

“The franchise that will be issued to the TNVS will be generic. We will develop the base for all TNCs, and we will review that common pool every three months. In essence, they are doing public service,” she said.

Uber has 66,000 cars while Grab has more than 52,000. Of these, only over 3,700 have a provisional authority or certificate of public convenience from the LTFRB. –Jovic Yee