Ride-sharing firm Grab Philippines has made a last ditch appeal for drivers not to go on a ‘transport holiday.’
Thousands of Grab’s driver partners plan to effectively go on strike for a 12-hour period to demonstrate the ‘oppressive’ new rules being imposed by the Philippines Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Grab said it will not penalise any drivers who go offline in protest but will offer monetary reward to partners who continue working.
"Grab reminds its driver-partners of their commitment to service the Filipino commuting public. To help support this commitment, Grab offers #TuloyPasada Reward to driver-partners who will continue to service commuters," said Grab Philippines spokesperson Nicka Hosaka.
Drivers are protesting the Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) operator application process for permits and a ban on using hatchback vehicles for ride hailing services.
Driver groups criticised the ‘complicated high requirements and slow processing’ for acquiring and releasing provisional authority (PA) and Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC)’ documentation.
The TNVS groups plan to go offline from 6am until 6pm while protests will be held across Metro Manila and elsewhere.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board urged the driver groups to continue dialogue and not cause disruption to the travelling public.
"We urge them to bring their legitimate concerns to LTFRB, in dialogue, so that the Board can address them and not hold the riding public hostage by their planned disruptive action," said LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra.
