Manila – Sen. Imee Marcos has filed a resolution calling for a Senate investigation into the alleged abuse and poor service of Grab Philippines and its “effective monopoly” of ride hailing services.
Marcos said commuters using its services consistently complained about exorbitant fares after Uber, another Transportation Network Vehicle Service, sold its business to Grab.
“The increase in Grab fares by more than double the rates that riders are accustomed to suggests that the digital ride-hailing company is playing games with the riding public’s patience,” Marcos added.
She said based on Grab’s pricing commitments to the government, the company is supposed to cap its fare increases this December at 22.5 percent of its average rates before it bought out its rival, Uber, in March 2018.
Marcos cited a screenshot of Grab’s quoted fares, showing a one-kilometer ride that used to cost less than P100 now costs P245 via GrabCar or from P231 to P346 via GrabTaxi.
“How will Grab explain that? Monopolies tend to push limits and cross the line of abuse, so we in the government must remain vigilant of sectors imbued with public interest like water and transport,” Marcos said.
Marcos’ resolution was filed after the Philippine Competition Commission on Wednesday ordered Grab Philippines to refund another P14.15 million for violating its voluntary commitments, on top of the P5.05-million refund earlier announced.
She also urged the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow motorcycle-for-hire services such as “Angkas” to fill the gap in public mobility, as traffic worsens while mass transport systems are being improved.
Marcos has filed Senate Bill 409 that seeks to recognize motorcycle-for-hire services like Angkas as legitimate means of public transport, employment opportunities for an “unskilled workforce,” and revenue-earners for the local government units that will supervise them.
“Sana umangkas na ang LTFRB sa diwa ng pasko at regaluhan na ng siguradong trabaho ang mga Angkas drivers,” Marcos said.
Of the estimated 15,000 drivers of Angkas, around 4,000 or over 25 percent of them did not graduate from college or were previously out of a job, she added.
“The country’s most congested urban areas – Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao – are crying out for the convenience of more ride-hailing services,” said Marcos./PN
