TRAFFIC. Bumper-to-bumper traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City on Feb. 28, 2024. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday (April 9, 2024) announced the indefinite postponement of the awarding of an additional 10,000 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units in Metro Manila due to clamor from transport groups. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)
MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has postponed indefinitely the awarding of an additional 10,000 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units after opposition from transport groups due to fears of worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
In a statement on Tuesday, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III said the previously announced increase was meant to provide more jobs for Filipinos.
“As of today, we have only 23,000. And because we feel the need for more players because there is a seeming deficiency in public transportation, nag-award po kami ng (we awarded) 10,000,” Guadiz said.
However, he said, the additional units have been postponed until a study determines the sufficient number of TNVS vehicles needed in Metro Manila.
“In deference again to the clamor of the transport sector, we are postponing indefinitely the awarding of the slots to other players,” Guadiz said.
He noted that the previous administration calculated that the maximum capacity for TNVS in Metro Manila is 65,000 units.
On Monday, the LTFRB announced that the additional 8,000 slots for motorcycle taxis will be awarded outside the National Capital Region (NCR) after the Coalition of Transport Sectors appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to stop the expansion of the MC taxi study in the NCR due to its adverse effects on traffic. (PNA)
