MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered an immediate halt to the onboarding of new drivers and riders by Transport Network Companies (TNCs) and Motorcycle Taxi Platform Providers (MTPPs) after several firms were found to have exceeded government-imposed limits.
The directive came following reports that some companies had gone beyond the maximum number of accredited drivers, leading to the emergence of so-called “tempo drivers” — individuals operating without proper authorization under the system.
In a memorandum, Lopez directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to enforce the suspension of onboarding activities for Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and motorcycle taxi drivers, except for those with valid franchises.
The order also prohibits on-the-spot and same-day onboarding activities conducted without prior approval from the LTFRB.
Lopez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is studying possible penalties and fines against TNCs and MTPPs that will be proven to have violated onboarding limits.
The DOTr has yet to release details on the number of companies involved and the extent of the alleged violations.
