The Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued the regulations on accrediting hatchback units for transport network vehicle services (TNVS), weeks after drivers appealed to the agency not to ban the vehicle type.
In its amendment to Memorandum Circular No. 2018-03 released on Monday, the LTFRB said that the accreditation of hatchback units would be subject to the following conditions:
- Hatchback units shall be accepted subject to a transition period of three years in order for the peers to recoup their investment;
- Hatchback units shall only be allowed to operate within Metro Manila. Hatchback units are prohibited from operating in the provinces of Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite; and
- Hatchback units shall charge lower fares to be approved by the LTFRB.
The LTFRB also asked TNVS applicants to replace or drop and substitute their accredited vehicles with year models from 2012 and earlier within ninety days from the effectivity of the said circular.
The agency drew criticisms for its plan to bar hatchbacks and compact cars from being accredited as TNVS.
LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada earlier said that the agency is planning to ban and remove the accreditation of small, compact cars or non-2,000-cc rated vehicles for Uber and Grab, citing the safety of the passengers.
READ: Poe to LTFRB: ‘Act humanely’, review plan to bar hatchbacks, compact cars as TNVS
Sen. Grace Poe had asked the LTFRB to go slow on its plan, noting that the owners of compact cars who have already registered with TNCs under the old guidelines “should not be suddenly deprived of their livelihood.”
“The agency should comply with due process and at (the) very least act humanely by providing a considerable amount of time as a transition period for the owners of these vehicles,” she said. /je