GRAB WANTS BETTER DATA ON TRAFFIC

While Uber pays a P190-million fine to end its suspension, Grab expresses willingness to pay for a study that will measure how ride-hailing services are affecting traffic. Both signal just how gung-ho these firms are about Philippine commuters’ support.

Ride-sharing company Grab Philippines is willing to sponsor a third-party study that will weigh the impact of disruptive technologies on the country’s traffic situation, following observations that traffic in Metro Manila remained bad during the suspension of rival Uber Systems Inc.

Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu finds it necessary to study the level of disruption of these new technologies on traffic to craft the right regulatory framework.

“We are linked to traffic. But there is no concrete study about that,” said Cu.

Grab has about 54,000 registered drivers in the country. However, Cu said not all of them are on the road at the same time, unlike taxis that operate 24 hours. Cebu, for instance, has about 3,000 registered drivers but only about 2,000 are active and not necessarily driving 24 hours, as most are part-time drivers.

Driving change

While commuters have commended Grab and Uber for making their trips easier, these ride-sharing services in the Philippines are also being blamed for the worsening traffic, especially in Metro Manila.

While they welcome policies, Cu underscored the need for government to look into its regulatory frameworks while consider- ing, as well, the requirements of these new technologies.

“It is not that our regulators don’t want change. It is just that it is difficult to balance the requirements of these new technologies with the existing framework of the government,” said Cu during the Mandaue Business Summit hosted by the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry held last week.

He noted they are willing to work with the government in providing better services to commuters. Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reiterated the government’s role in supporting innovation, instead of being a detriment to it.

“More often than not, we are bogged down with dysfunctional bureaucracies and hierarchies. Let’s face it. Innovation is moving so fast, much faster than policies,” said DTI Export Marketing Bureau ( EMB) Director Senen Perlada.

Yesterday, Uber paid a P190-million fine for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to lift its onemonth suspension issued last Aug. 14.