The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board or LTFRB wants to create a pool of registered and franchised drivers that serves as part of the Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) system.

This pool of drivers is envisioned to be able to service all the requirements of all Transport Network Companies (TNC) now operating in the Philippines, especially in congested areas like Metro Manila.

LTFRB Board Member Atty. Aileen Lizada told a group of select motoring reporters today that they are looking into creating this pool of drivers to address the current shortage of cars that the TMC’s are experiencing.

“We want to create a pool of drivers that will service all of the TNC’s operating in the country so that if there is a need for a driver, each TMC do not have to depend on their own exclusive set of drivers but can tap on this common pool,” said Lizada.

The system at the moment is that each TNC, whether Grab or Uber, have their own set of exclusive drivers that service them. This has resulted in longer waiting times and sometimes even scarcity of service units, especially when demand is high.

“The truth of the matter is that most Uber drivers also drive for Grab and vice versa. They are actually a pool of driver now that service both TNC’s. What we want to do is create a pool where all drivers (TNVS) service all TNC’s depending on the need of the commuter at the moment,” explains Chairman Martin Delgra III, head of LTFRB.

In this format, all TNVS will be members of all TNC’s in a common pool that will service all commuters in all areas of the country and not just exclusively for any TNC and area.

Delgra explained that in this way, a driver can service any commuter of Uber or Grab in the area where he is since he is part of the pool that is tapped into all the TNC apps. Since most Uber drivers are also Grab drivers, exclusivity is not an issue anymore and the drivers can acquire any passenger who uses any ride-sharing app in their area.

Lizada, for her part said all these TNVS will be required to get a franchise and register themselves at the LTFRB to ensure both theirs and their passengers safety. Their basic information, like name, vehicle, vehicle color, plate number and franchise number will be included in the driver information of the app.