Grab drives in livelihood

opportunities for Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, December 20 (PIA)—Livelihood opportunities for car owners who could be partners with Grab Car, motorcycle riders lining up with Grab Food and Deliveries, as well as a greatly improved mobility, fair, safe, reliable and affordable rides: these are the immediate benefits Boholanos can get for the decision to invite the super-app service platform company here.

Coming in at a crucial time when transport operators and colorum drivers are taking advantage of the lack of public transport services traversing popular tourism and commercial routes, by overcharging fares, the local government has successfully allowed Grab to operate here.

Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, upon the arrangement of Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry in March, met with Grab Philippines and asked the company that services fast developing tourism communities like Bohol by using a super-app that facilitates include deliveries, mobility, financial services, enterprise, and others

Pitted with a drive to come up with a solution to the complaints in the transport sector and responding to the modernization program, Aumentado has asked Grab to come in and level the playing field.

Passengers, travelers and tourists have been complaining about the overcharging that happens, according to the governor.

Even tourist transport operators are also complaining about how colorum vans are stealing their opportunities to recoup the cost of their being registered and legitimate transport providers, all for that “one time big time.”

While he had directed the Provincial Planning and Development Office to craft the local public transport route plan, a crucial plan that could have solved the local transport woes administrations before, Aumentado said he is excited this happened much earlier, and the unlimited business opportunities the superapp brings to local economy.

“We will be there to help support your province and community,” recalls CJ Lacsican, Grab VP for Cities and Business Operations, when the governor and local officials proposed to Grab the plan to let them come in.

Offering fair, safe, reliable and affordable pricing, as well as livelihood opportunities for stakeholders in the transport sector, Grab officially launched its Grab Car and Grab Food delivery services during simple ceremonies in Hennan Resort in Panglao, December 16.

Grab Philippines country head Ronald Rada, who felt honored for the opportunity for Grab to come to Bohol, said Bohol has got a tremendous tourist and local enterprise opportunity, something that Grab can ultimately come in and support.

Grab, as a tech platform, we digitize communities. On one hand, you can with a few clicks, you can opt for a food delivery, a car, and on the other hand, that service is delivered by hundreds of restaurants, cars, operators, that is where we provide the livelihood opportunities, for everyday entrepreneurs, says Rada.

Grab services include Grab Car, Grab deliveries, Grab Express, Grab Food, Grab Trike, Grab Rentals, the platform connects different stakeholders, people and ultimately more opportunities.

“We just started, but we are going to get better, improve ourselves, we are still few, so please be indulgent” Lacsican said adding that there are yet some 40 Grab Car services available for hailing through the Grab app, even as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has opened up over a thousand slots in the Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) point to point shuttling system for the Visayas.

Grab also committed to help Boholano drivers, operators by providing equal opportunities for livelihood by education and training, making sure we have quality drivers who know how to navigate the app, and to the passengers, Grab is an app, anything in there, Grab can trace, to make sure everyone has a safe and reliable, fare compliant ride.

In fact, Aumentado said he has called on Mayors Roman Bullen, Edgardo Arcay and City mayor Jane Yap to agree on the operation of Grab Trike for these towns and city.

He said when trike drivers go around the city looking for fares, getting into Grab, it would be easier for fares to get to them. Moreover, it would, if agreed upon, allow trikes from these towns to cross boundaries and serve commuters.

With improved mobility now, Grab’s entry to Bohol could also open up countless job opportunities for transport owners lining up their vehicles for on-demand services, assured of double to triple incomes than the minimum wage.

“We have been steadfast in making Bohol a smart resilient and inclusive province with digital services that will improve processes that will benefit everyone,” Aumentado said. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

UNLIMITED LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES. Bohol governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said he is happy that Grab came earlier than expected, as he said Grab brings about infinite opportunities, not just for car and motorcycle drivers but also for thousands of restaurants and merchants, to trike drivers, vehicle operators for rentals and even financing companies. Aumentado here joined Grab officials during the launch. (PIABohol)