Transport Advocacy Groups Call for an Evaluation of Recent Grab PH-Move It Deal

Various transportation advocacy groups have called on the government to review Grab Philippines’ acquisition of Move It, a motorcycle taxi firm. The collective — consisting of Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection, National Public Transport Coalition, ARANGKADA Riders Alliance, and Digital Pinoys — signed a petition addressed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) inter-agency technical working group (TWG).

Grab Philippines acquired Move It earlier in August, but the amount remains undisclosed. Moreover, the company affirmed that Move It will not be merged with Grab. Instead, it will operate as a separate entity and continue to use its own platform. “There’s a change in ownership, but there’s no merger of operations,” elaborated Grab Philippines senior director for operations and strategy Ronald Roda after the acquisition was announced.

With this, the advocacy groups raised concerns regarding Grab Philippines’ “instant accreditation by virtue of its acquisition of Move It,” explained Ariel Inton from Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection. Motorcycle taxi services in the country are still under a pilot study, which has been ongoing for over three years.

“It should not mean that when a TWG-accredited company withdraws or shows that it is no longer interested in operating a motorcycle taxi service, very much like the planned sale of Move It to Grab, the accreditation is automatically transferred,” Inton elaborated. In response, Move It remarked that its accreditation will not be transferred.

“We stand for democratizing MC taxi service to serve more Filipinos,” the motorcycle firm noted. “Regardless of its ownership, Move It maintains its own corporate identity and branding under the leadership of its Chairman Mr. Francis Juan. Given the transition of government, we prudently and proactively informed all relevant government agencies — based on our rigorous legal due diligence.”

Source: GMA News