3,000 EV taxi franchise slots remain open in Metro Manila, says LTFRB

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that 3,000 of the 8,000 franchise slots allocated for electric vehicle (EV)-powered taxis in Metro Manila remain available, while applications are also ongoing in other key cities.

“Nag-open tayo sa Metro Manila ng 8,000 (EV taxi units). As of today, ang natitira na lang po ay 3,000 [We opened 8,000 EV taxi slots in Metro Manila. As of today, only 3,000 remain available],” Joel J. Bolano, technical division chief of the LTFRB, said in an interview during BusinessWorld Insights: Powering the Electric Shift.

Mr. Bolano said the approved EV taxis are already operating.

Among the operators granted franchises are Vietnamese ride-hailing firm Green and Smart Mobility (Green GSM), local operator EV Taxi Corp., among others, even several smaller taxi operators.

“May mga small taxi players din na nag-start na mag-substitute, or pinalitan nila ang mga old units nila ng EV [There are also small taxi operators that have started replacing their old units with EVs],” he said.

“Some have now started to venture into the fleet.”

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

The allocation of EV taxi franchise slots in the country’s key cities is provided under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2025-050, dated Nov. 18.

Mr. Bolano said the board is prioritizing the processing and approval of EV taxi franchise applications to encourage operators to shift from conventional vehicles.

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

The ongoing initiatives are part of the LTFRB’s efforts to help public transport operators meet the minimum 5% electric vehicle fleet requirement, Mr. Bolano said. The requirement is mandated under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA). — Edg Adrian A. Eva