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MANILA — Ride-sharing has become a highly-popular mode of transportation for many living in the metro. From its humble start in 2015, app-powered ride-hailing service has boomed in the country, evolving in its services offered to include deliveries and transport, as well as the inclusion of motorcycles in its vehicle pool.
The latest participant in the growing market is Unified Transport Operations League (UTOL), a 100% Filipino-owned and -operated transport network company that aims to strike a balance in addressing the needs of both the riding public and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) owners and operators.
This starts by addressing the unmet needs of the driver-operators. “We will focus on supporting our vehicle drivers. This is one of the aspects of the industry that aren’t being focused upon by other transport network companies. For example, if our drivers need immediate access to UTOL due to emergencies for any reason, we have a team ready to respond to their request,” UTOL Chairman of the Board Roland Maningas shares.
To provide better services to the riding public and partner drivers-operators, UTOL has collaborated with different companies such as vehicle maintenance, cleaning services, and even insurance providers to provide comprehensive insurance to the vehicles at a lower price. The company is also in talks with automotive dealers to form partnerships and become accredited vehicle suppliers for UTOL partner driver-operators. This will include financing for vehicles that would be used by drivers under the UTOL network.
As a 100% Filipino owned and operated company, these are the first and foremost considerations they had in mind when they conceptualized and created UTOL.
“We have an existing transportation company so we are keenly aware of the needs of driver-operators when they are on the road. With UTOL, we plan to expand and improve the services we currently offer to our own fleet. We want to build a fruitful relationship between UTOL and the driver-operators as partners in building a better future . This is why the name of the company is UTOL. We want to highlight that the company is an extension of family,” he added.
With all of these activities rolled-out, UTOL hopes that its partner-driver operators will also up their game and provide better-quality services to the riding public. In professionalizing the behavior of vehicle drivers and ensuring that quality standards are met, the company can differentiate itself from the field and customers can book knowing that they will get a smooth and safe transportation experience at a fair price.
The company unveiled its app for download today, April 30, at the Champagne Salon of the Manila Hotel, Rizal Park, Manila, Metro Manila. This app was developed by a team of an all-Filipino IT experts with the grand launching on May 8, 2024.
UTOL has already signed up TNVS driver-operators into their platform, but the doors are still open for prospective applicants. “There are two main requirements that applicants need to provide if they apply as an UTOL TNVS. These are the OR/CR of the vehicle to be registered and a professional driver’s license. For the vehicle models that can apply, UTOL follows the guidelines of the LTFRB regarding TNVS requirements. However, ideally, UTOL would prefer Toyota Vios applicants as these are easier to service for UTOL’s own mechanics and spare parts can easily be found and stocked,” Maningas said.
UTOL aims to be major player in TNC industry
As a company, UTOL plans to expand to other cities in the future, but the management team decided to focus first in Metro Manila for its operations. “We first want to perfect our operations in Metro Manila but it is our plan to expand to other cities and provinces. If there is a demand for ride-hailing (service) in that particular city, then we will look into developing our presence there,” Maningas emphasizes.
UTOL is bullish on the prospects of ride-hailing as a form of transportation in the Philippines. The company noted that there is still a large untapped market in the country, especially in the other regions. “There are only a few transport network companies and they are the ones responsible for connecting the driver-operators to the passengers. So right now, demand outstrips supply, especially during public holidays and special occasions such as the Christmas season. The number of TNVS isn’t enough as of the present,” Atty. Orly Ocampo, head of the Legal Department notes.
To ensure the safety of its passengers, UTOL app has a “special feature” that puts a premium for the well-being of its passengers as well as the driver. In case a passenger feels unsafe inside the car, he/she can just press the Help button on the app and an UTOL representative will immediately call the passenger or the driver to address their concerns. In the same way when a driver feels something is not right with his passenger/s all he had to do is press this emergency button, and the management will be there to the rescue.
It is in this market backdrop that UTOL aims to make a difference. The company aims to be a major player in the TNC market by providing high-quality service at rates that won’t break the customer’s budget. “We at UTOL want to uplift passenger convenience while, at the same time, provide better opportunities for our partner driver-operators and their families,” Maningas assures. (♤)
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For more information, you can visit Unified Transport Operations League (UTOL) website http://www.utol.ph and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Utol.ph or you can call tel. no. 8948-8865 or CSR mobile nos. 09660090717 and 09083770081. (/)