A transport coalition has raised concerns over the current application process for Transport Network Companies (TNCs), calling for a more transparent system.
The United Transportation Coalition Philippines (UTCP) complained about the inefficiencies in the process, leaving many applicants unsure where to go to secure a slot.
UTCP leader Gerric Asuncion questioned the management of TNCs, claiming that slots are always unavailable or immediately filled during openings.
The coalition is urging the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to take back control over slot allocations for TNCs.
“For fairness, dun na tayo, balik na natin sa LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), hindi namin alam. Pupunta kami sa isang TNC (Transport Network Company), wala po sarado po,” said Asuncion. (For fairness, let’s return this to LTFRB. We don’t know where to go. We visit a TNC, and they tell us there are no slots available.)
“Pero nasa balita naglabas ang LTFRB, we are open for how many slots, 5,000, 10,000 slots, pero nasan yung mga slot na yon,” he added. (But LTFRB announces on the news that there are 5,000 or 10,000 slots open—where are those slots?)
He further stated that the number of available slots does not match the demand from accredited transport operators.
“Ngayon ito ang problema, sa dami ng TNC, napakaliit ng slots para dun sa mga TNC na talagang nag-ooperate. Iilan lang dyan sa mga TNC accredited na yan ang talagang may operation,” he said. (Now, this is the problem—with so many TNCs, the slots allocated to the truly operating companies are too few. Only a handful of accredited TNCs are actually running operations.)
Meanwhile, the coalition clarified that they have not engaged in discussions with TNCs, opting instead to submit a petition as they believe it is the most appropriate forum to address their concerns.