3K franchise slots for Metro Manila still open for EV taxi

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) revealed that 3,000 franchise slots are still open for electric vehicle (EV)-powered taxis for Metro Manila.

While applications for available franchises are ongoing in other key cities, LTFRB allocated a total of 8,000 slots for Metro Manila.

Joel J. Bolano, chief of the LTFRB technical division, said, “Nag-open tayo sa Metro Manila ng 8,000 (EV taxi units). Ang natitira na lang po ay 3,000.”

Bolano said operators already granted franchises include Vietnamese ride-hailing company Green and Smart Mobility (Green GSM), local operator EV Taxi Corp., and several smaller operators.

“May small taxi players din na nag-start na mag-substitute, or pinalitan nila ang mga old units nila ng EV,” he said.

Bolano said applications are also ongoing in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, where LTFRB opened 600 EV taxi franchise slots for each area.

Bolano said LTFRB is prioritizing the processing and approval of EV taxi franchise applications to encourage operators to shift from gas or diesel-fueled vehicles.

“This is why opening of slots is focused on EVs — to encourage operators to shift from the ICE (internal combustion engine) to EVs,” he said.

Bolano added that LTFRB is encouraging public transport operators to convert five percent of their fleet to be EV which is mandated under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.