Hatchback units and sub-compact vehicles are now allowed to operate as ride-hailing cars following the amendment of a department order permitting them to transport passengers on the road.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade signed Friday an order amending provisions of Department Order (DO) No. 2015-011 and Department Order No. 2017-011 which previously excludes hatchbacks or smaller sedans as a transport network vehicle service (TNVS.)
“To further promote mobility and recognize new forms of transport services that can help address the large demand for transport services in expeditious and responsive ways, this Department shall include hatchbacks and subcompact cars to be classified under TNVS,” the order stated.
During Manila Bulletin’s MB Hot Seat roundtable discussion also on Friday, Tugade said that dialogues and meetings with TNVS stakeholders are ongoing to ensure that their demands as well as the issues surrounding the industry are being discussed.
“Ang importante ay ‘yung tuluyang dayalogo, tuluyang usapan nung mga stakeholders nang sa ganon, ‘yung comfort ng nakararami ay mabigyang katuparan,” Tugade said.
Under the new order, hatchback and sub-compact vehicles were added to the list of vehicles that can be utilized as TNVS, which include sedan, wagon, sports utility vehicle, van, multi-purpose van, and other similar vehicles.
On seating capacity, hatchbacks can accommodate up to three passengers excluding the drivers while the fare shall be pre-arranged and authorized by the LTFRB.
Similar to the original DO, all TNVS shall be equipped with a GNSS receiver, free Wi-Fi, a closed-circuit television, and a dashboard camera.
“Yung hatchbacks, tanggap naman pati sa ibang bansa — sa bayan ng Hapon, sa Great Britain. ‘Yung issue na walang baggage compartment, ang magde-decide po kung gagamitin ‘yan or hindi ay ‘yung pasahero. Hindi mo iku-consider ‘yun sa specification,” he explained.
The latest development on the issue came after deactivated hatchback drivers staged protest actions and filed complaints against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for banning their vehicles as TNVS and for failing to implement its Memorandum Circular 2018-005. (Alexandria San Juan)
