Iloilo City- Following its successful launch last May 2024, Filipino Transport Network Company (TNC) Unified Transport Operations League (UTOL) expands its operations to other provinces in the Philippines and is now making its presence felt in Iloilo City, one of the major centers of business in Western Visayas.

Atty. Orly Ocampo, Head of the Legal Department of UTOL, noted that the move to expand into provinces was in response to the Board Resolution of  the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) which opened slots for transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) applications in the Visayas and Mindanao Regions.

“The LTFRB Board resolves to open TNVS slots in Region 6 ( Western Visayas) which includes Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Antique and Bacolod. For this year, the agency opened 1,600 slots. UTOL will expand to regions where there are open slots to address the demand of the market,” Atty. Orly Ocampo, Head of the Legal Department noted.

UTOL chairman of the board Roland Maningas shared that unlike Metro Manila, TNVS availability in the provinces remain untapped and there is a big market that TNCs can expand into. In fact, TNVS services in many tourist destinations are underutilized, with many driver operators offering vehicles for hire at a daily or hourly rate instead. “We saw that in the provinces, there is demand for TNVS services, usually fueled by tourists. However, the riding public and public utility vehicle drivers and owners in these areas are not wholly familiar with the TNC concept. We want to be the first to penetrate these new markets. We want to educate both the riding public and the driver operators and show to them that there are other ways to get around in their areas and provide better transport services,” he said.

UTOL originally wanted to focus solely on Metro Manila as it irons out its operations, but with the opening of slots in other provinces, the company saw an opportunity to grow its presence and leverage on the advantages in being the first mover.

“The open slots give UTOL the opportunity as a TNC to accredit its own fleet of TNVS drivers/operators. We hope that these first-time TNVS franchise holders would also support UTOL. We have said before that we want to be partners with TNVS drivers/operators and help each other build a better future for both of us,” Atty. Ocampo shared.

One of the projects that UTOL has worked out is an agreement between the company and car dealers to provide one-stop shop services for UTOL-registered drivers/operators. “Normally, when someone goes to dealership, customers there only get the unit. However, we have partnered with Toyota Valenzuela and Toyota Pasong Tamo to provide more services to help our driver operators. If they are accredited by UTOL, they also get to avail services such as financing services, insurance, and law offices services. So those who are interested in entering the TNVS services can join UTOL caravans because during these events, everything is already laid out for them, from car ownership, to financing, to TNVS accreditation,” Atty. Ocampo added.

UTOL is also in discussions with other car dealers in provinces to provide these services in order to help support prospective applicants.

The company has also partnered with SSS, with UTOL pledging to subsidize the SSS contributions of eligible drivers/operators. “We will be shouldering the SSS contributions of our driver operators. We only require that they are active on UTOL for 6 months straight. That is the first requirement because that is the minimum required by the SSS under the program. This incentive program is our way of showing to our drivers that we value them and UTOL supports them in many ways, not just by offering an online platform as a TNC,” Maningas shared.

UTOL has just opened its first Iloilo office at 14A Blk 2 Lot 15, Bankers Village, Brgy. Quintin Salas Jaro, Iloilo City with contact numbers 09668610750 and 09085409409. A Grand motorcade will happen on July 27, 2024 starting at Robinson Pavia and ending at Park Inn by Radisson.

UTOL is an All-Filipino ride-hailing transport network services company that aims to address the needs of both the riding public and TNVS driver and operators.

The company had its major press launching event last April 30, 2024 at the Champagne Room of the Manila Hotel and its Grand Launching Event last May 8, 2024 at the Palacio de Manila where more than 500 drivers attended to signify their full support.