Private trucks no longer required to apply for franchise exemption

MANILA, Philippines - Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board chairman Winston Ginez told a congressional hearing on the port and traffic congestion yesterday that the LTFRB has withdrawn its circular requiring “not for hire” trucks to apply for exemption from franchising.

He told members of the committee on Metro Manila development chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo that the LTFRB “listened to the sense of reason” in recalling the directive.

During the hearing, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino warned the directive was like a “reverse franchise” where green-plated or not for hire private trucks are required to apply for exemption when they are exempted in the first place.

He said the situation could reach a point where truckers that require franchises to operate would simply apply for exemption. He described the directive as “anti-poor, anti-people and anti-commerce.”

He said he agreed with the LTFRB’s automatic exemption policy on not for hire trucks, saying the law exempts them from the coverage of the ban.

Ginez said the LTFRB and the MMDA would also continue working to rationalize the city bus routes, in cooperation with city mayors.

“We are ready to move forward and solve our problems as far as traffic is concerned,” he said.