Grab prods gov’t to accept 75,000 TNVS

The cap on Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) should be raised to at least 75,000, not 45,000, to accommodate all active drivers in the country, Grab Philippines said Tuesday.

Estimates showed there are at least 75,000 active drivers, but the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) plans to have a limit of 45,000, Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu told reporters in a press conference.

A master list submitted by Grab to the LTFRB placed the number of unique TNVS under its service network at 54,000 units, while competitor Uber Philippines reported 70,000 units, or a total of 120,000.

Out of the total number of units on record, Cu noted only 75,000 are active drivers. Many are no longer in the business and others are registered under both Grab and Uber, he said.

“I think 75,000 would be what the unique active drivers are in the road right now ... Kaya nung lumabas ‘yung 45,000 medyo nagulat kami. Saan nanggaling?” he said.

“On that basis of that lang, na para lang walang mastranded, tingin ko nasa 75,000,” he added.

Under Memorandum Circular 2018-03, the LTFRB has ordered a cap of 45,700 TNVS units nationwide—45,000 in Metro Manila, 500 in Metro Cebu, and 200 in Pampanga.

It said on Friday that TNVS franchise applications will resume on February 5.

Cu, however, said the 75,000 estimated TNVS units include only drivers who are actively plying the streets, and would rule out the drivers whose applications are pending before the LTFRB.

“If you ask me how many ‘yung kailangan talaga, it’s gonna be more than that,” he said. —VDS, GMA News