Gabriela solon hits Grab PH's 'history of non-compliance'
Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas
The additional P9-million fine that was recently imposed by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) against Grab Philippines shouldn't come as a surprise to the company "given its history of non-compliance". Thus, said House Assistant Minority Leader Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas even as she called out Grab for its alleged repeated disregard for compliance orders from regulatory agencies. The Makabayan lawmaker noted that the PCC handed down a refund order against Grab back in 2019. "As of April last year, only 73.80 percent of the total P25.45-million refund has been returned to Grab customers. It is unacceptable that the full amount has not been refunded yet. Imposible namang walang kinikita ang Grab sa laki ng singil nila sa mga mananakay (It's impossible for Grab to not have earned a profit with the huge fees it asks from commuters)," Brosas said. Earlier, Gabriela filed House Resolution (HR) No.860 urging the lower chamber to investigate Grab's non-compliance with regulatory agencies. The measure also recommended that more stringent measures be imposed on Grab. "Grab's continued refusal to comply with authorities is a cause for concern, especially since it currently holds up to 95 percent of the local market. We are also calling for a review of the Philippine Competition Act to address Grab's apparent abuse of dominant position in the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) market," Brosas said. "A private corporation like Grab Philippines can easily raise its prices by taking advantage of the lack of reliable and safe transportation options. Hopefully, this will serve as a wake-up call for the government to prioritize the needs of the people over profits when it comes to public transportation," she added.