A group of lawyers claiming to advance the interest of commuters surfaced on Friday to denounce the bid by Grab Philippines to have itself listed as fourth participant in the ongoing motorcycle taxi program.
The Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection (LCSP), headed by lawyer Ariel Inton, feared the worst of Grab Ph’s motivations and declared the bid a naked attempt at stifling competition. Inton is a former regulator having been a member of the board at the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board.
According to the LCSP, Grab Ph is already the third participant in the ongoing pilot testing of motorcycle taxis as a safe and convenient mode of public transport, having previously acquired Move It which forms the third member of the motorcycle-taxi pilot testing the program under the guidance of a technical working group.
The group directly addressed the ride-hailing, delivery and e-money services provider in an open letter, saying: “Grab Philippines, you already have an accreditation in the motorcycle taxi pilot through Move It where you have a 99 percent ownership stake. Why are you asking for a second accreditation for Grab Bike?”
According to the lawyers, a second franchise for Grab Ph will mean sidelining six other applicants to the motorcycle taxi pilot program that based on documents at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulator Board include Cloud Panda, Taxi Philippines, e-pick me up, Easy Way Transport Service, Para Express Technology and Ding Dong Rider Ko.
The group questions Grab Ph’s intent and purpose in owning still another motorcycle taxi franchise: “Through Move It, you are already a participant in the MC taxi pilot. Why are you in a hurry to join the MC taxi pilot with a second entry?
The lawyers also noted that Move It, already operating in Metro Manila, appears to have expanded its operations to Metro Cebu and Cagayan de Oro even without a confirmed allocation for these areas.”
The lawyers reject Grab Ph’s avowed intent of enhancing the transport sector and providing jobs for Filipinos by chasing after a new slot, saying the enterprise already achieved these goals when it acquired Move It.
“It seems you are aiming for the inclusion of not one but two Grab-controlled entities within the MC taxi pilot (project). This may reasonably be taken as an indication that you may be gearing up to dominate the MC taxi market by obtaining double accreditation. Based on your history of infractions in the spaces where you are currently dominant, this (is) a legitimate concern that is shared by industry stakeholders,” the lawyers said.
Inton urged Grab Ph to be “honest and open” in dealings with the regulators and the riding public.
“Grab Philippines, please engage with your stakeholders in good faith and in full transparency,” he said.
