Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 20) — A network of digital advocates is urging transportation officials to reject Grab Philippines’ bid to enter the motorcycle taxi market as it already owns Move It, one of the players in the pilot study.
Ronald Gustilo, National Campaigner of Digital Pinoys, expressed his strong opposition to Grab’s plan to penetrate the industry after Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Vigor Mendoza bared that seven more companies want to join the pilot run: Cloud Panda Philippines Inc., Taxi Philippines Inc., E Pick Me Up Inc., Easy Way Transport Service and Multipurpose Cooperative, Para Express Technology Services Inc., Grab Philippines, and Market Innovators Inc.
“[T]hey may be able to control the market with their two companies which could lead to [the] possible monopoly of the industry, as we’ve seen with what Grab has been doing with other industries that they have been participating [in] now,” Gustilo said.
Grab acquired Move It in August last year. However, it maintained that Move It will continue to operate independently.
Mendoza, meanwhile, said the LTO was “about to approve their applications subject to the consideration of the committee, except for Grab Philippines, since there is a legal issue on the table regarding the buyout of Grab Philippines on one of the current participants, Move It.”
The LTO was also looking to expand the pilot coverage to more key cities outside Metro Manila.
