Grab Philippines and Move IT have rolled out assistance programs helping driver partners cope with the financial challenges brought on by Typhoon Carina.
GrabCar and MOVE IT have established Malasakit Calamity Assistance Programs that grant financial aid to qualified drivers. To date, more than P2.4 million has been disbursed, with more claims being processed.
To further ease the financial burden on their partners, Grab and Move IT have implemented a loan payment holiday, temporarily suspending daily loan collections. This initiative is designed to alleviate the financial burden on their partners, enabling ease of navigation through these challenging times.
In a joint statement, the Motorcycle Taxi Community, Habalyeros, TNVS Community Philippines, and One Goal Rider Community, whose members are driver-delivery or rider-partners of the TNCs, said the measures allowed them to prioritize their safety while continuing to provide services on the on-demand platforms, striking a balance between their financial needs and personal well-being.
“In our ranks, it is not an easy decision to stop our daily livelihood of delivering passengers, even if the weather conditions change. This is our main source of livelihood,” Romeo Maglunsod of the Motorcycle Taxi Community, said.
“That’s why we greatly appreciate the support of Move It and Grab because we feel that we can count on them to make sure that we can somehow still make money while traveling safely on the road,” he added.
Community leaders from various Grab and MOVE IT driver and rider communities have also launched a series of relief operations in disaster-affected areas throughout Metro Manila.
The volunteers, composed of drivers and riders, visited Caloocan, Montalban, Rizal, Malanday, Navotas, Pasay, and Marikina to distribute more than 2,500 relief packages. More than 3,800 cleaning kits and hygiene sets were also donated to various organizations and local government units.
Their mission extends beyond their own communities, reaching out to the families of fellow riders and drivers across various on-demand service platforms, demonstrating a unified front in these challenging times.
At the onset of Typhoon Carina, Grab and Move It have proactively communicated to its partners, advising them to prioritize their safety and well-being, as well as activated programs designed to protect the economic welfare of partners, especially those who were affected by the harsh weather conditions.
