The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said July 14 that it is now easier for vehicles being used in ride-hailing services to renew their franchise.
LTFRB chairman, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, said the ease of doing business in terms of renewal of all certificates of public convenience (CPCs) is intended to reinforce Memorandum Circular 2026-049.
Under the circular, the validity of the CPCs for transport network vehicle service (TNVS) is extended to five years under the Authority to Operate Certificate (Atoc).
“Our compliance with President Marcos’ order to find ways to make it easier for our clients, the operators, and drivers of public utility vehicles is on the right track. We are informing the TNVS sector that they do not need to file an application for renewal or a motion for conversion under ATOC,” Mendoza said in a statement.
All CPCs authorizing the operation of TNVS, which were valid and subsisting upon the effectivity of the circular, are deemed automatically converted into Atocs, without the need to file an application for renewal or a motion for conversion, the LTFRB said in an advisory.
Mendoza said this also covers CPCs covering authorized units powered by non-internal combustion engines (non-ICE).
“Operators whose CPCs fall within the foregoing classification and are nearing expiration are advised that they are no longer required to file an application for renewal, since their CPCs have already been converted into Atocs by operation of Section 14(a),” the advisory states.
Mendoza said that if an operator wishes to obtain a formal copy of the converted Atoc, s/he may file a manifestation requesting its issuance with the Legal Division of the Board or the Legal Section of the Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office having jurisdiction.
He clarified that there is no filing fee required or collected for the filing of the manifestation or for the issuance of the converted Atoc.
“CCS that had already expired with a duly filed application for renewal, been canceled, revoked, suspended, or otherwise ceased to be valid and subsisting before the effectivity of Memorandum Circular 2026-049 are not covered by the automatic conversion under Section 14(a),” the advisory added. ||
