MANILA— The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will begin accepting applications Thursday to regularize Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) units in Metro Manila that were onboarded by transport network companies (TNCs) without the required authority.

The 30-day application period will run from Oct. 8 to Nov. 6, with submissions to be made exclusively online through the official LTFRB digital platform or another portal designated by the agency.

Acting LTFRB chairperson Greg Pua Jr. said the measure, ordered by Department of Transportation (DOTr) acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, seeks to assist TNVS drivers who were onboarded by TNCs in good faith and made substantial financial commitments despite lacking the required authority.

“It is the policy of both the DOTr and the LTFRB that no driver or operator be left behind by a regulatory intervention occasioned by the fault of another, and denying them an opportunity to regularize would cause undue hardship and disrupt the continuity of adequate transport services,” Pua said, citing Memorandum Circular 2026-111.

The practice known as “tempo” involves TNCs allowing TNVS units to operate through their digital platforms even though the vehicles have not secured the necessary authority from the LTFRB.

The regularization policy applies only to unauthorized units included in validated masterlists previously submitted by TNCs, Pua said.

Applications may be submitted by individual TNVS operators or by accredited TNCs through authorized representatives acting for eligible drivers.

The LTFRB stressed that the measure does not constitute a general reopening of TNVS applications. It also does not remove any administrative liabilities incurred by TNCs for onboarding unauthorized vehicles.

The policy covers the area under the Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study Update and Capacity Enhancement Program. Applications filed after Nov. 6 will not be accepted.

The number of available regularization slots will correspond to the unauthorized TNVS units identified in the validated masterlists and official LTFRB records.

Eligible vehicles must have plate numbers included in the validated masterlist and pass a roadworthiness inspection at an LTFRB-recognized Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center.

Proof of the inspection must be transmitted electronically by the inspection center directly to the LTFRB system before a provisional authority can be issued.

Vehicles beyond the seven-year age limit will not qualify. However, overage units may be dropped and replaced with qualified substitute vehicles under existing LTFRB rules.

Applicants will no longer have to manually upload their personal passenger accident insurance policies. Instead, the required coverage must be obtained from an accredited provider integrated into the LTFRB system.

The LTFRB also said the three-year vehicle model restriction and five-vehicle limit per applicant under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-008 will not apply to applications covered by the new policy.

Pua said the measure is consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to implement fair rules and regulations while addressing the welfare of the public transport sector.