MANILA- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will increase the franchise validity of units operating under ride-hailing services Grab, Uber and U-Hop from 1 to 3 years, the agency told ABS-CBN News Wednesday.

JUST IN: LTFRB to increase validity of TNVS (Uber, Grab) CPC from 1year to 3yrs; memorandum order to be released end of Sept |@migueldumaual pic.twitter.com/JUXgE1Hvco

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) September 6, 2017

The transport regulator is set to release a memorandum on the plan by the end of September and will issue stickers to identify vehicles operating as transport network vehicle services (TNVS).

The LTFRB said all TNVS drivers are required to attend the Driver's Academy.

LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada said all transport network companies will have a common pool number, which will be partly based on the demand of the TNVS.

Currently, there are 8,000 to 10,000 TNVS operating per hour during rush hours.

Consultations between the agency and TNCs will also be held every quarter to calibrate demand and policies.

Recently, the LTFRB drew heavy criticism from commuters for its crackdown on "colorum" or illegally operating cars under ride-hailing services.

Companies such as Grab and Uber have wrangled with the transport regulator on the scope of regulation on their services.

Both ride-hailing services were earlier fined P5 million each for defying a moratorium on accrediting new drivers.

Uber later on faced suspension over alleged franchise violations and was slapped with a P190-million fine.

The company resumed operations late last month after it paid the hefty fine and another P299 million as compensation to its partner drivers.

Ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Grab have become popular in the metro amid poor services of regular metered taxis and other unreliable modes of public transport.