Grab Philippines on Tuesday acknowledged the resentment some hold against its bid to secure regulatory approval for its own motorcycle taxi service that at the moment seems impossibly out of reach. It does not lose hope, however, that the coveted accreditation is eventually dispensed in its favor.
Grab Philippines main man Ronald Roda said he remains confident the transport authorities assess the petition in the same manner the Malacañang Palace has apparently held the bid.
Roda, Grab Philippines chief operating officer, recently engaged in discussions on motorcycle taxi operations with members of a social media group where he addressed news reports quoting Teofilo Guadiz III, chairman of the MC Taxi Technical Working Group, as saying Grab is not authorized to participate in the ongoing pilot study. Guadiz has clarified that only Angkas, Joy Ride, and Move It are included in the pilot program.
Roda’s comments, however, suggested confidence in an eventual approval for Grab.
“There are many enemies, but that’s okay. Grab also has friends,” he said while sharing a photo of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. embracing a Grab executive during a recent courtesy call at the Malacañang Palace.
President Marcos Jr. himself recently announced a collaboration with Grab looking to legalize motorcycle taxi operations and ease the regulations governing the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) industry.
But even with this development at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Roda remains optimistic, saying, “That’s okay, maybe it will be allowed next week. It’s a timing issue.”
In 2021, the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) motorcycle taxi technical working group (TWG) rejected the partnership between Grab Philippines and Move It extending the opportunity for Grab to participate at the motorcycle taxi pilot study. The ongoing pilot program includes only three players, namely Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It.
But in August 2022, Grab Ph acquired Move It’s business operations and promptly committed to independently operate the enterprise using the existing technology and its app.
