Growing evidence of widespread overboarding and unauthorized operations in the country’s ride-hailing and motorcycle taxi industry has prompted urgent calls for stricter government regulation, amid rising concerns over passenger safety, driver welfare, and platform accountability.

According to data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), as much as 72% of Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) units—around 40,000 out of 56,000—may be operating without proper authorization. Experts say this indicates not just a regulatory lapse, but a troubling normalization of “colorum” or illegal operations within digital transport platforms.

The situation is further worsened by overboarding practices among major companies. Move It has already been ordered to cut its rider fleet from 14,000 to 7,000, signaling that a large portion of its operations exceeded approved limits. Similar allegations have also been raised against Grab and other platforms for surpassing their allowed quotas of drivers and riders.

Meanwhile, inDrive has come under scrutiny due to concerns over its onboarding system and the increasing number of unregistered or insufficiently verified drivers on its platform. These issues point to broader weaknesses in monitoring and transparency across the industry.

The effects are immediate and significant. Registered drivers face unfair competition from unauthorized operators, while commuters may be exposed to safety risks due to insufficient vetting. The rapid and unchecked increase in driver numbers also affects fare stability and service quality.

Amid these challenges, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to extend financial aid to affected transport workers. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reported that over 478,000 drivers nationwide have received ₱5,000 each, totaling more than ₱2.3 billion in assistance.

However, the distribution of aid has also revealed inconsistencies in data submitted by transport companies. Some drivers reported being excluded from official lists, while others were identified as operating across multiple platforms. These discrepancies raise concerns over possible underreporting or inflated submissions by companies.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian warned that failing to resolve these issues could negatively impact both commuters and compliant drivers, especially amid increasing fuel prices and ongoing economic pressures.

Stakeholders are now calling for immediate government intervention, including a comprehensive audit of TNVS and motorcycle taxi platforms, stricter enforcement of regulations, greater transparency in data reporting, and the adoption of technology-based verification systems.

As transport services remain essential to everyday life and economic activity, experts stress that restoring order and accountability in the sector is crucial. Without decisive action, illegal operations and overboarding could become deeply entrenched, further weakening public trust in the transport system.