LTFRB accredits 5th TNC

MANILA, Philippines — A fifth Filipino-owned transport network company (TNC) yesterday got the go-signal to operate from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). 

Taxi-hailing platform Micab Systems Corp. secured its certificate of accreditation to operate as a TNC yesterday. The certificate would be valid for two years. 

Kris Montebon, Micab head of operations, said they have begun deployment and training of taxi drivers in Metro Manila. 

“Once we get our accreditation, we need only to ‘turn on’ the booking feature of the app for the passengers to be able to use it,” he said. 

Micab is the fifth TNC to be accredited following Uber’s exit from the country last month.

The other TNCs that have been accredited by the LTFRB are taxi-hailing applications Hirna Mobility Solutions Inc. and ride-sharing companies Hype Transport Systems Inc., GoLag Inc., and Ipara Technologies and Solutions Inc. 

The LTFRB was asked to fast-track the accreditation of TNCs amid fears of a monopoly by Grab following its acquisition of Uber. 

Uber ceased operations two weeks despite the interim guidelines issued by the Philippine Competition Commission due to a cease and desist order by the LTFRB.