DOTr allows hatchbacks to operate as TNVS

TNVS drivers staging a protest earlier this month. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO: GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

HATCHBACK cars, which the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) has prohibited and called “unsafe,” can be used as transport network vehicle services (TNVS), according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

DOTr secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday ordered the LTFRB to implement its Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2018-005, which allows hatchback cars to operate as TNVS under certain conditions.

“Implement the existing MC until such time that the same is modified and/or amended,” Tugade said in a July 18 DOTr statement issued to journalists.

“Kung kailangang baguhin ang ilang dokumento, baguhin. Kung kailangang i-improve, dapat i-improve, (If some documents needed to be changed, then change these. If these need improving, then improve these),” he added.

Under the MC, all accredited hatchback cars are allowed as public transport provided these operate during the transition period of three years.  The cars are only allowed in Metro Manila and should charge a lower fare.

The DOTr clarified only hatchbacks which were among the 55,000 units in LTFRB’s master list, with applications filed between March 5 and December 15, 2018, are eligible under the MC.

But the LTFRB should also amend its MC to allow hatchbacks to permanently operate as TNVS, and to include back into the master list those which have been removed, DOTr undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure Mark de Leon said.

The official noted that “bigger metropolitan areas like London and Tokyo” allow hatchbacks to operate as public transport.