Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua has learned about the concerns motorcycle taxi riders and Tricycle Operator Driver Associations (TODAs) have on Grab Philippines' acquisition of accredited motorcycle taxi operator, MoveIt.
Chua did so during a recent dialogue with riders, drivers, and other stakeholders on the matter.
One of those who attended the dialogue, ARANGKADA Riders Alliance National Chairman Rod Cruz, went as far as to request a call for a House inquiry from Chua, claiming that the acquisition jeopardizes the integrity of the government’s three-year-old pilot program on motorcycle taxis.
“What the driver groups want is for the pilot study under the DoTr (Department of Transportation) that began three years ago with the purpose of drafting a law that governs the operation of motorcycle taxis be concluded first, and the law passed to finally have proper regulations in place before any more such moves such as the Grab Philippines acquisition of MoveIt happen,” Cruz said.
Former DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade had previously instructed various agencies to form a motorcycle technical working group (TWG) to discuss issues to the possibility of two-wheel vehicles operating as public transport.
The TWG composed of the DoTr, Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Senate, House of Representatives, commuter welfare groups, road safety advocates, motorcycle manufacturers, motorcycle organizations, and law schools were mandated to discuss the standards and capacities, most especially on the aspect of safety, of a motorcycle and its driver for public transportation service.
“All riders and the riding public remain vulnerable until a law that defines proper rules and regulations is passed. And such underhanded moves, like the backdoor entry of Grab Philippines to the pilot program further places everyone at risk,” said Cruz.
The group also reiterated that the proper way by which Grab Philippines could have entered the pilot program was through filing for accreditation with the TWG.
“The problem with this scenario is that Move It General Manager Wayne Jacinto -- who was the former Grab Philippines Driver operations head -- is keen on playing dumb by saying that the move by Grab is not a back door entry into the program,” Ariel Inton, lead convenor of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection said.
“The front door would have been filing for accreditation, but if you recall, Grab Philippines withdrew its motorcycle taxi application years back and then surprised everyone by news that they have acquired MoveIt,” he added.
There have already been precedents with this move, Inton said.
In September 2021, the TWG suspended the partnership between Grab Philippines Holdings Inc. and We-Load Transcargo Corporation (“MoveIt”) which would have allowed MoveIt to offer its motorcycle taxi-hailing services to more passengers through Grab's platform.
Then, in December 2021, the TWG instructed MoveIt to permanently terminate its partnership with Grab Philippines and stated that allowing the tie-up to continue will make Grab a de facto fourth player, which is not allowed under the pilot program.
Furthermore, according to the TWG, Grab Philippines may enter the motorcycle taxi sector after a law regulating the sector is passed.
These sentiments of the rider groups were first made public as early as September of this year when the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection, National Public Transport Coalition, ARANGKADA Riders Alliance and Digital Pinoys called for an investigation on Grab Philippines acquisition of MoveIt.