Taxi drivers call for halt to TVNS franchise issuance

CEBU, Philippines — A group of taxi drivers in Metro Cebu is urging the national government and transport regulators to suspend the issuance of an additional 3,000 franchises for Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and electric taxis in Cebu, warning that the continued expansion of transport units could further threaten their already declining incomes.

In a petition, the Cebu Group of Taxi Drivers Inc., headed by its president, Archie Lou Valencia, appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez; Vigor D. Mendoza II, Chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB); to immediately halt the issuance of additional franchises in Metro Cebu.

The same letter was also addressed to Abosamen H. Matuan, Regional Director of LTFRB Region VII; Franz S. Pumaren, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation; and Senator Raffy Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, among other concerned government officials.

The group specifically called for the suspension of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2026-037, which authorizes the opening of 1,000 additional electric taxi franchises, and LTFRB Board Resolution No. 079, Series of 2026, which allows the issuance of 2,000 additional TNVS franchises in Metro Cebu.

For the taxi drivers, the growing number of transport units has intensified competition for passengers while demand has remained relatively unchanged.

“Every additional franchise issued directly affects the earning capacity of existing drivers who are already struggling to survive,” the petition stated, a point further echoed by their legal counsel, Atty. Rey Gealon, during a press conference yesterday.

According to the drivers, who have already filed their formal opposition with the LTFRB, they had remained silent through previous expansions in the transport industry, adding that they were focused on earning a living and supporting their families.

However, they said their silence should not be interpreted as acceptance of policies they believe are “harmful to their livelihood.”

The group claimed that many taxi drivers who once earned between P800 and P1,000 daily now take home only around P300 to P500 despite working 10 to 12 hours or more each day.

Drivers said they continue to shoulder expenses for fuel, vehicle maintenance, utility bills, school costs, and household necessities, with some barely earning enough to sustain their families.

Members of the Cebu Group of Taxi Drivers Inc. also gathered yesterday during their first general assembly for 2026, where they formally signed the petition and reiterated their opposition to the additional franchises.

Among the concerns raised by the drivers was the alleged oversupply of TNVS units, taxis, and electric taxis in Metro Cebu. They also claimed that tourism activity in the metropolis has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, resulting in fewer passengers and lower earnings.

In addition, the group expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged delay in the release of fuel subsidies for taxi drivers, claiming that TNVS operators and workers from other transport sectors had already received assistance.

The drivers also appealed for what they described as equal protection from regulators, stressing that taxi operators have long been part of the country's transportation system and continue to provide round-the-clock service to commuters, tourists, airport passengers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

Aside from suspending the additional franchises, the group urged the government to conduct a comprehensive economic and transportation impact study, hold consultations with drivers, operators, commuters, and other stakeholders, and adopt policies that would balance the needs of the riding public with the welfare of existing transport workers.

“We are not asking for special privileges. We are simply asking that our voices be heard. We are asking for fairness,” the petition read. — /IHM (FREEMAN)