ARTA prods LTFRB to release more than 3,000 approved TNVS permits

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is prodding the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to release the permits of more than 3,000 approved applications of transport network vehicle services (TNVS).

The board is taking long to issue the 3,120 permits because of the printing, ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica said Thursday.

“Natatagalan lang sila sa pagpi-iprint out,” Belgica told GMA News Online.

“Kaya ang request namin sa kanila, actually, bilisan nila ‘yung paglabas ng mga certificates para doon sa mga taong ‘yun, kasi deemed approved na ‘yun. Papel na lang ang hinihintay,” he added.

In June, ride-hailing service Grab Philippines said it would cancel 8,000 TNVS partners for failing to submit proof of provisional authority to operate, a document issued by the LTFRB.

TNVS drivers and operators have expressed their grievances about the permitting process at the LTFRB, saying they are willing to comply with the requirements, but application and follow-ups have been tedious.

Around 3,000 TNVS have been spared from deactivation after applicants showed Grab the proof that they have completed the requirements and were simply waiting for the LTFRB to release the permits.

ARTA has declared that around 3,000 of the TNVS applicants have met the LTFRB’s requirements. In August, ARTA ordered the LTFRB to approve all pending TNVS applications with complete documentary requirements.

Up to now, Belgica said the LTRFB is still in the process of releasing all approved permits.

The ARTA chief noted that they already filed a complaint before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) against three LTFRB division heads in finance, technical and legal offices over this issue. —VDS, GMA News