ILOILO City – Concerns over a possible oversupply of taxis in Iloilo City have resurfaced following the discovery of a transport franchise request from a Manila-based company seeking to deploy 1,000 electric taxi units in the metropolis — a volume that officials and transport groups fear could overwhelm the city’s roads and dilute driver earnings.
The proposal, submitted by Green and Smart Mobility Philippines Inc. (Green GSM) and stamped “received” by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on September 23, 2025, asks regulators to open a new batch of taxi franchises for a fully electric fleet the company intended to roll out by October 2025.
According to documents filed with the LTFRB, Green GSM identified itself as the country’s first electric taxi operator with an integrated EV ecosystem in Metro Manila. The letter outlines the company’s claims of strong customer feedback, a growing user base, and a model that pairs EV taxi operations with its own charging infrastructure. It further enumerates the projected benefits of electric mobility — from reduced fuel reliance and air pollution to job creation and support for clean-energy targets under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA).
The LTFRB filing also states that the company is prepared to invest “millions of dollars” for its Iloilo expansion and cites favorable responses from certain local stakeholders, as reflected in the supporting documents submitted to the regulatory board.
The scope of the proposal — 1,000 units entering the market at once — has caused unease among local officials and operators, particularly as the LTFRB Region 6’s earlier approval of 100 new conventional taxi units already sparked discussions on oversupply. Driver associations have also reported shrinking incomes due to the parallel rise of ride-hailing vehicles, intensifying competition for a finite pool of passengers.
Advocates caution that Iloilo City’s existing road network, traffic patterns, and ridership levels must be carefully evaluated before regulators allow a large-scale fleet expansion. Officials have previously demanded transparency from LTFRB regarding the data behind franchise issuances, noting that unchecked growth could lead to congestion in already busy areas such as Diversion Road, Mandurriao, City Proper, and La Paz.
In the LTFRB documents, Green GSM argues that increased competition would ultimately benefit commuters by raising service standards and broadening transport choices. The request was signed by Dao Quy Phi, who provided contact information for further clarifications.
As of press time, the LTFRB has not released a decision on the application, and the proposed start of operations — October 2025 — has already passed. The unresolved bid continues to fuel public debate on how Iloilo can modernize its transportation system without triggering taxi saturation or undermining the sustainability of existing operators.
The forthcoming decision is expected to influence not only the introduction of electric taxis in Iloilo but also broader transport-planning questions about supply, demand, and the city’s long-term mobility direction./PN
(Note: To ensure accuracy and transparency, this article has been updated to reflect the proper attribution.)
