MANILA – After much debate over the past few months, Uber has filed for accreditation as a Transport Network Company (TNC) with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday.
This is ahead of the August 20th deadline that the authorities imposed on the company.
“Over the past few months, Uber has been preparing our submission for TNC accreditation with the expert guidance of the DOTC and LTFRB. Today, we can confirm that Uber’s application has been submitted and has been well-received by the authorities,” confirmed Laurence Cua, General Manager of Uber in Manila.
Back in May, LTFRB released a memorandum circular requiring app-based vehicles such as Uber and GrabCar to get a certificate of accreditation in order to operate legally. The agency has created TNC, a new transport category to accommodate these new modes of transportation.
Unlike in other countries, Uber and GrabCar vehicles are considered in the Philippines as public utility vehicles (PUV) and are therefore required to comply to the insurance requirements, display an ID and issue receipts. Basically, everything that PUVs are required to do.
Earlier in July, GrabTaxi has already been granted full accreditation by LTFRB, making it the first legalized TNC in the country.
Photo c/o Arnee del Rio via Uber Manila’s Facebook Page.