Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6) – A digital advocacy group is calling for the suspension of the operations of Grab Philippines and its motorcycle taxi firm, Move It, over various alleged violations.
Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo on Tuesday said penalties stiffer than fines should be imposed on the two transport network vehicle service (TNVS) firms.
In a press conference, Gustilo said Grab seems to be unfazed by the fines imposed by the government due to its dominant position in the TNVS sector.
He said Grab should be held accountable for the supposed hike in its minimum fare despite the absence of authorization from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Move It, meanwhile, is also allegedly flouting regulations on motorcycle taxis due to its supposed failure to train riders recruited from rival firms.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) slapped another ₱9-million fine on Grab last month for failure to fully refund its customers more than three years since the reimbursement was ordered by the regulator.
The ₱9-million fine was on top of the ₱63.7-million penalty that PCC imposed on Grab over the years following its acquisition of the ride hailing firm Uber in 2018.
“Hindi na sini-seryoso ng Grab ‘yung gobyerno. Tingin ng Grab dahil monopolyo sila, they are above the law and they can do whatever they want,” Gustilo said.
[Translation: Grab is no longer taking the government seriously. Grab thinks that since it has a monopoly on the ride-hailing market, they are above the law and they can do whatever they want.]
In a statement also on Tuesday, Move It denied the claims of violations, maintaining that it operates “in strict accordance” with government regulations.
“We appreciate meaningful and productive discussions that contribute to the ongoing enhancement and regulation of the motorcycle taxi sector. However, we question the motivation behind these unfounded allegations specifically targeting MOVE IT – the smallest among the three (3) MC Taxi Pilot players,” the company wrote.
Move It said it is working with the Motorcycle Taxi technical working group to ensure that all of its riders undergo the mandatory training and assessment, irrespective of their prior work experience.
The motorcycle taxi firm added that it has recently upgraded its app to enhance safety measures for riders and passengers. In particular, it said it added new features such as Share My Ride, 24/7 Safety Center, and in-app VOIP communications.
“If fare pricing is of concern, it is essential to examine the fare transparency practices of all MC Taxi players, not just a single entity,” Move It also said.
“MOVE IT is fully committed to never overcharge its passengers – we guarantee cheapest fares with clear promo schemes and no hidden costs,” its statement further read.
For its part, the Makabayan bloc said it plans to file a bill to regulate the TNVS sector.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said the measure would address, among others, issues on granting a franchise to TNVS firms, and compensation for drivers.
The group also welcomed the plan of budget airline AirAsia to launch a ride-hailing service in the Philippines, saying competition would result in better services for commuters.
