Cebu lawmakers look into arrival of e-taxi fleet

Local

CEBU’S roads are seeing the arrival of electric taxis, prompting both provincial and city officials to raise concerns about how the new vehicles may affect traffic flow, compliance with existing transport regulations, and the operations of current taxi providers.

The Cebu Provincial Board opened a formal review on Monday, Feb. 9, to examine Green and Smart Mobility (GSM), a Vietnam-based company that recently introduced its electric taxi fleet in the province.

Provincial Board Member Stanley Caminero stressed that the inquiry aims to ensure the company follows local transport plans and national energy laws while cautioning that simply increasing the number of cars is not an effective environmental solution.

Caminero explained that the law intends to prioritize public utility vehicles subject to stricter regulation rather than merely replacing gas-powered cars with electric models.

He noted that giving existing taxi drivers the opportunity to transition to electric vehicles first would reduce pollution without adding more vehicles to the streets.

Legal questions have emerged over GSM’s operations, as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reported that the company received its permit directly from the national office in Manila on Nov. 24, 2025, bypassing local evaluation.

LTFRB-Central Visayas hearing officer Antepuesto confirmed that the provisional authority was indeed given by the board and Manila as their application was filed there and was only forwarded to the regional office.

“The routes involved are within Region 7, but initially the application of GSM was indicated as an interregional application because the application originally indicated Cebu to any point in the Visayas, including regions 6 and 7,” he added.

Antepuesto, however, said it was amended to intraregional only, meaning they are traveling from Cebu City to any part of Central Visayas.

He added that electric taxis fall into a gray area under the New Public Service Act of 2022 and cautioned that the 90-day probationary authority is not automatically extendable.

Additionally, l Board Member Nilo Seno questioned whether the electric vehicle has the technical capacity to travel across the region, given that it requires charging to operate.

Meanwhile, earlier, local taxi operators also voiced concerns, with the Cebu City Council’s Committee on Transportation, Communication, and Other Utilities warning that LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2025-050 could disrupt existing services.

Ken Transportation Inc. argued that the circular was issued without proper consultation and could negatively affect current operations, reflecting broader concerns about operational and economic pressures in the sector.

The council emphasized that while national authorities regulate transport franchising, local governments remain important stakeholders whose input is necessary when policies affect traffic, public convenience, and livelihoods.

Rather than oppose the circular outright, the committee recommended that the LTFRB review the concerns and hold additional consultations with affected operators and the Cebu City Government.

GSM has been operating under a 90-day provisional authority since November 2025, and officials continue to monitor the fleet’s impact on traffic and compliance with safety and legal standards.

Last December, the rollout of Cebu’s first batch of electric taxis faced delays as the province pressed the brakes on the planned deployment of 600 units.(MyTVCebu)