GrabCar adjusts fare structure

Grab Philippines, the company behind GrabCar hailing service, announced that it has adjusted its fare structure since last week of May, receiving both delight and complaints from some passengers and drivers.

“Grab always reviews the fares to find a way (to) strike a good balance to benefit both driver and passengers,” said Grab Philippines public affairs manager Leo Emmanuel Gonzales in a text message to Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. In Cebu, some GrabCar passengers and drivers observed lower fares starting only this week.

“We are reviewing the pricing, in fact we have been doing so since last week and have already made changes last Friday (May 26) tom make fares fair. Changes in the fare structure have been made,” said Bryan Cu, Grab Philippines country manager, in a Facebook post published on May 29.

Drop in fares

In Cebu, drivers and passengers recently took notice of the drop in fares by about 20 percent to 40 percent.

For instance, a GrabCar ride from Ayala Center Cebu to Sun. Star Cebu office along P. Del Rosario St. in Cebu City would cost a little over P100 before, but on Thursday afternoon (4 p.m.), it was only at P62.

Fair fares

Cu explained that there are short trips (or rides that take less than 15 minutes) that are priced at P100 or less, which he noted as favorable since short trips on short distances would allow drivers to pick up more passengers.

“We will continue to adjust to ensure that the #FARESAREFAIR (Fares are Fair) for our partners. If not, we will find means to compensate for the trips where the time and fare do not make sense,” Cu said.

While some drivers expressed dismay on the lower fares as this translated to lower income, Cu said GrabCar’s top drivers continue to earn the same levels.

Amid the adjustment in the fare, the official urged drivers to continue maintaing a high allocation rate, or matching of drivers to passengers; and low driver cancellation rate.