BACOLOD CITY – Ride hailing service Grab is gearing up for a mobility expansion here and Negros Occidental.
Grab Philippines regional manager for Western Visayas Jocelyn Yoshida announced over the weekend that 900 cars are needed to enable Grab to be available for booking to any destination in the province.
GRAB Philippines regional manager for Western Visayas Jocelyn Yoshida (third from left) with the five ‘Ka Grab Papugay Awardees’ in Bacolod City who were recognized for their contribution to boosting the public image of Grab as a transportation provider to Bacolodnons and Negrenses. (Photo courtesy via Tanyag News and Features)
Yoshida said that Grab has received directives from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to open entries or slots in the province for their mobility expansion.
At present, GrabCar serves routes from Bacolod City to Bago City (southern part) and Bacolod City to Manapla town (northern part).
Once the 900 cars go on board, Grab can already provide service going to as far as Sipalay City in the south and San Carlos City in the north, according to Yoshida.
“We will try to reach the entire Negros,” she said.
“Our goal is to maximize the slots released by the LTFRB for Negros Occidental,” Yoshida said, adding that this will not only enhance booking reliability on the platform for passengers but will also help provide livelihood for more aspiring TNVS drivers.
“Every TNVS slot filled is another Filipino family with an additional stream for income – hence our dedication and focus to welcome new members to our fleet,” she said.
Along with the geographic expansion, Yoshida also announced the upcoming launch of GrabRent in this city next month.
GrabRent allows passengers to rent a GrabCar for hours instead of the usual per-destination booking, Yoshida said.
Through GrabRent, tourists and locals exploring this city will be able to easily rent a four-seat or six-seat GrabCar for a minimum of four hours.
This ensures that passengers can navigate the region with ease and peace of mind, making their journeys throughout the area worry-free, she said.
Yoshida noted that the recent expansion of the operational area and service portfolio here is Grab’s solution to the expected surge in mobility demand during the holiday season.
With more reliable mobility options here and in the province, Grab said it aims to make this holiday season more special and hassle-free for "kababayans" (countrymen) across the region.
Grab said it is also growing its operations in Iloilo with 1,100 TNVS slots, a number they are diligently working to maximize as part of their goal to extend operations across Panay Island.
It also plans to bring the GrabRent feature in Iloilo by the end of the year, with a particular focus on serving tourists traveling to and from Kalibo, Aklan – the gateway to the world-renowned Boracay Island.
On October 13, Grab Bacolod recognized five drivers for doing the extra mile in the service of others.
Dubbed "Ka Grab Papugay Awardees 2023,” the awardees were John Paul Muriera Yasa, Ka Grab 5-Star awardee; Fidel Nove Calibjo Dequillo, Ka Grab Good Samaritan; Aurelio Bitoon Babas Jr., Ka Grab Milestone awardee; Joey Lampaso Balucos, Ka Grab Walang Pinipili; and Kevin Ian Quiambao Talusig, Ka Grab Ultimate Experience.
They received gifts such as jackets, T-shirts, and other Grab items as rewards for their contributions to boosting the public image of Grab as a transportation provider to Bacolodnons and Negrenses.