Tour groups ask LTFRB to lift ban on rent-a-car franchise

The Regional Tourism Council, in a resolution, is asking the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to lift the moratorium on the issuance of franchises for rent-a-car services to accommodate the increasing tourist arrivals in the region.

A separate resolution approved by the council also asked the LTFRB to amend the existing policies on the issuance of franchises so that franchises of tourist buses, vans and cars will not only be limited to a certain province.

Stakeholders of the tourism industry in the region met last Thursday for the tourism council assembly where representatives from the LTFRB were also invited.

Lawyer Jose Douglas Sanson of LTFRB7 answered the different concerns of tour operators during the assembly on behalf of LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion.

The LTFRB has so far issued 487 franchises to rent-a-car services in Central Visayas. Some operators, however, questioned why LTFRB ordered a moratorium for the franchises of rent-a-car services. This, they said has encouraged vehicles with no franchises, locally known as “colorum,” to operate just to accommodate the increasing tourist arrivals.

Tour operators also complained that some of their vehicles were apprehended even when there are still tourists on board, causing their passengers to be late for their flights.

Another concern raised during the assembly is the limitation of franchises for tourist buses, vans and cars.

The establishment of the Nautical Highway and the roll-on/roll-off facilities in different provinces has made land transportation easier. However, since franchises of vehicles in the tourism business are limited to a certain province, problems have cropped up.

Tour operators lamented that there was an instance when a tourist van hired by a group in Cebu was apprehended upon arrival at Oriental Negros.

Department of Tourism 7 director Patria Aurora Roa confirmed having received such complaints from tour operators and some organizations of tourist drivers.

Sanson assured that the LTFRB will address this concern and said that as soon as their office receives the official copy of the resolutions, he will then act on these concerns immediately. He also asked the DOT to endorse the requests of tour operators before franchises of tourist cars and buses can be issued. — Gregg M. Rubio/QSB