Manila, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced that newspaper publication of applications for obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) is no longer required, but rather a Notice of Hearing.
This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to speed up and make government services more efficient.
According to the LTFRB, instead of newspaper publication, they will use a digital platform to issue notices of hearing and other information related to CPC applications.
The CPC is a document that authorizes companies, cooperatives, and owners of public vehicles to legally operate as public utility vehicles (PUVs).
This aims to expedite all transactions with the agency and reduce the cost of applicants in going through their paperwork.
The said order will be implemented under a memorandum circular signed by the LTFRB under Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which mandates government agencies to eliminate or simplify unnecessary processes.
Through this, the LTFRB will launch digital platforms including the official website and official Facebook pages of the LTFRB Central and Regional Franchising and Regulatory Offices, where Notices of Hearings will be posted.
The new policy covers applications for new CPC, extension of validity, transfer, modification or amendment, consolidation, change of name, change of party applicant, and other applications that previously required newspaper publication.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB clarified that due process will remain in all applications and that anyone who wishes to contest or file an opposition against an application will still have the right to do so.
The agency also encouraged the public to regularly monitor the LTFRB’s official website and social media pages for announcements and Notice of Hearing regarding applications.—Grachella Corazon, Eurotv News