Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) — A motorcycle taxi company wants the government to open the business to more players to boost competition.
In a statement over the weekend, Francis Juan, Move It chairman, said that allowing other service providers to enter the market will benefit the riding public.
The official said strengthening competition in the market “protects consumers from monopolies and duopolies and cartels that can abuse the public with poor service and high prices knowing that the public has no other choice.”
The pilot study on motorcycle taxi has only three providers: Angkas, Joyride, and Move It.
Juan said Move It only has about 1,000 partner drivers, while Angkas previously said it has around 30,000 riders.
“Limiting the MC taxi business to three benefits only us -– Angkas, Joyride and Move It -– and not the public. And if current efforts by an unseen hand to keep Move It as a kulelat [laggard] player, then basically you have only two dominant companies,” Juan said.
Move It has been claiming that a group is attempting to limit its growth after ride-sharing giant Grab Philippines acquired the company in August.
READ: Grab-Move It deal questioned, gov’t urged to review buyout
“The market leader has its own foreign investor with a board seat and yet the so-called civic groups trying to stop us from getting financial help and getting bigger and better are quiet about it. They are focusing only on us and foisting an untruth that our investor will become a fourth player. How can that happen when the anti-competition policy now in place limits the sector to three?” he said.
Move It said it will continue to run its operations independently and offer the “lowest” fares.
