ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government has dismissed claims it is backing Green and Smart Mobility (Green GSM) Philippines Inc.’s bid to deploy 1,000 electric taxis, warning that the assertion was inaccurate and that the proposal cannot proceed under the existing three-year moratorium on new taxi franchises.
The rejection came after the LTFRB Central Office sought local input, prompting Mayor Raisa Treñas to convene her transport team, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 legal officer Atty. Jun Altura, and sector representatives to clarify the matter.
“There was no proper consultation with the local government,” said city government spokesperson Joy Fantilaga Gorzal.
“They stated in their letter to LTFRB that they had coordinated with city officials, but that is not accurate. This needs to be clarified because proposals of this scale affect traffic management and existing operators who are already serving the public,” Gorzal added.
She reiterated the city’s position on the matter: “We remain consistent with the LTFRB-6 moratorium. As long as the suspension is in effect, we cannot endorse any new taxi franchise application. The moratorium applies to all operators, including those offering electric vehicles.”
Altura, for LTFRB-6’s part, said the regional office is unlikely to endorse the application because of the moratorium.
“Consistent with our commitment to refrain from granting additional taxi franchises, we are inclined to refuse favorable endorsement of the request of Green GSM,” according to Altura.
He added that the proposal encroaches on Iloilo’s transport ecosystem.
“There is a standing commitment not to pursue new taxi allocations for Iloilo, and to coordinate with the LGU on matters affecting public transport,” he added.
In its letter to LTFRB, Green GSM argued that it has already built Metro Manila’s first integrated electric taxi ecosystem, deploying “thousands of units” and generating “thousands of jobs.”
The company said its cabs receive five-star ratings due to “affordable rates, smoother rides, and new, well-maintained vehicles.”
It framed its proposed Iloilo expansion as part of national goals under the Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Development Act (Republic Act 11697) and claimed it had engaged with the city government — an assertion contradicted now contracted by the city government.
But even as it rejected the application, Iloilo City reiterated its pro-EV stance; it emphasized fairness, consultation, and accuracy of claims.
“We welcome proposals utilizing electric vehicles because they support sustainability and modernization,” Gorzal said. “But we also need to safeguard the interests of our local operators who are already transitioning to e-vehicles.”
She cited Quarry Taxi’s move to replace old units with EVs as an example.
The city underscored the principle behind its caution. “Every decision must be good for traffic, good for operators, and good for the Ilonggo riding public,” Gorzal said./PN
