Grab Philippines said that it will extend its conditional assistance to its drivers amidst rising oil prices.
GRAB PHILIPPINES — The ride-hailing giant announced that it would be handing out a performance-based assistance fund worth PHP 25 million designed to support its fleet of drivers and couriers.
As it is, local pump prices increased to new heights this week as global crude oil prices breached the USD 100 per barrel mark due in part to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Grab Philippines senior director for strategy and operations Ronald Roda said that the economic challenges that they are experiencing require a longer-term solution from all sectors of society.
“We are optimistic that through our efforts, we are inspiring more platforms, businesses, and organizations to step forward and take on this enormous task of advocating for their stakeholders during these challenging times,” Roda said.
The ride-hailing giant said in a statement on Friday that drivers and couriers will be able to tap into the conditional PHP 25-million assistance fund by way of completing performance-based incentives and other partner support programs.
However, the ride-hailing giant didn’t elaborate on the specific goals since Grab is “currently monitoring the situation on the ground and constantly tailoring it”.
Instead, Grab said that the incentive program, which they said isn’t a dole out, will only benefit drivers who will take the road.
Aside from the fund, Grab is extending a “zero-interest loan program” for fuel purchases to its couriers and drivers through Grab Finance Shell Fuel Card, which the ride-hailing giant said that couriers could avail one week’s worth of fuel.
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The Philippine Star reported that Grab Philippines has not raised fares for its services but said that they have initiated talks with regulators on the matter.
Based on the report, the public transport sector has threatened that it would hold transport strikes to protest oil price hikes this week and to push the government to suspend excise taxes on fuel.
The transportation department, for its part, has released PHP 2.5 billion worth of fuel subsidy for the transport sector.
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