Atty. Vigor Mendoza Appointed as New LTFRB Chair — A Welcome Move for the Public Transport Sector
- TSE
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Atty. Vigor Mendoza II has officially been appointed Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), following a reshuffling of key transport regulatory posts. This appointment maybe one of the positive devevelopments in a while for the public transport sector and LTFRB given Mendoza’s mix of legislative, regulatory, and industry experience.
He has previously served in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, giving him firsthand knowledge of the bureaucratic and policy mechanisms that shape land transport regulation for both public utility and private vehicles.
Atty. Mendoza is not new to the public transport sector. Before his appointment, he was widely known for his leadership in 1 United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK) and KAPIT (Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon)—two transport organizations representing operators and drivers affected by the government’s modernization and route rationalization efforts. He also served as a party-list representative for 1-UTAK in the 14th Congress.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PUV routes in metropolitan areas saw significant changes and rationalization, often implemented with minimal consultation according to reports. Operators reportedly expressed concern over how those changes affected service efficiency and operational costs. Mendoza has previously spoken on these issues, noting that route and services developed by operators were not always taken into account in decision-making.
As LTFRB chairman, Mendoza will oversee regulatory functions such as franchises, route approvals, and enforcement. He will inherit an agency with various institutional gaps related to route planning, data transparency, and coordination between LTFRB and DOTr (Department of Transportation) and the struggling Public Transport Modernization Program.
