LTFRB to no longer require newspaper publication for franchise applications

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will no longer require the publication of franchise applications and notice of hearing in a newspaper of general circulation for the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC).

In a statement, LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the move is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s orders to expedite all government services.

Mendoza said removing such a requirement will save more time and money for the applicants.

“This is effort is intended to fast track all the transactions in the LTFRB. Huwag na nating pahirapan pa ang ating mga kababayan na gusto lang mag-hanapbuhay (Let us no longer burden our countrymen who just want to earn a living),” Mendoza said.

The CPC authorizes companies, cooperatives and motor vehicle owners to operate a public utility vehicle (PUV).

One of the requirements is the publication of the application and notice of hearing in newspapers of general circulation.

Dispensing with the publication requirement is also in line with the intention of Republic Act 11032 or the 2018 Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.

RA 11032 states that all government agencies must undertake cost compliance analysis and to eliminate, modify, or simplify requirements found to be unnecessary or burdensome.

Mendoza added that this is also aligned with technology systems and other digital platforms that enable the real-time, searchable, and publicly accessible dissemination of information.

“Digital platforms that provide wider reach, greater accessibility, faster dissemination, and improved searchability, which sufficiently satisfy the requirement of notice in administrative proceedings,” a LTFRB memorandum circular said.

“The implemented technology systems and other digital platforms… Sufficiently satisfies the requirement of public notice in administrative proceedings and providing interested parties with a broader, faster, and more efficient means of access than reliance solely on a single newspaper publication,” it added.

The memorandum that dispensed with the newspaper publication requirement covers all applications filed with the Central Office and all Regional Franchising and Regulatory Offices (RFROs) for the following:

• New CPC;
• Extension of Validity of CPC;
• Transfer of CPC;
• Modification / Amendment of CPC;
• Consolidation of CPC;
• Change of Name;
• Change of Party Applicant;
• Other CPC applications which previously required newspaper publication.

Instead, the LTFRB will now be adopting new modes like posting on the Official LTFRB website under a dedicated, searchable, and route-indexed “CPC Applications Bulletin” that will be accessible to the public free of charge; and posting on the official social media pages of the LTFRB central office and the RFROs, including but not limited to their respective verified Facebook page.

The notice of hearings will include name and address of the applicant; case docket number and date of filing; nature of the application; route, area, or service applied for; number of units applied for; etc.

Mendoza added that the right to oppose any application will be accorded due process and proper procedures. — JMA, GMA News