'No apprehension policy' for trucks extended

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is extending its "No Apprehension"policy for trucks-for-for hire for another month to allow operators more time to file their Provisional Authority (PA).

Last June 28, the Board first issued a 30-day ‘No Apprehension" policy for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to allow operators of trucks-for-hire to comply with the Board’s franchising regulations before being allowed again to run on national roads.

With a substantial number of applicants still yet to complete their application for PA, the business sectors and truck for hire owners requested the Board to extend the ‘No Apprehension Policy’ for another month.

The one-month moratorium was supposed to end Monday, July 28.

“Sa aming pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang sangay ng ating pamahalaan, representatives of business sectors at truck for hire owners, napag-alaman naming na marami pang mga truck operators ang di pa nakukumpleto ang pag-aapply ng provisional authority," LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

He added that a significant number of truck for hire owners nationwide might have to stop their operations and create tremendous impact on the nation’s trade and commerce if an extension is not granted.

The Board has issued a resolution, extending the  moratorium  from  July 29 to August 29.

Application for truck for hire services with PA shall be accepted by the Board until August 22.

As of July 29, the Board has received PA 7,371 applications from truck-for-hire operators, consisting of 28,198 units.

The Board, in cooperation with the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), has arranged free pick up of the PA applications.