Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection issues open letter to Grab Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection (LCSP) has issued an open letter to Grab Philippines addressing the company's participation in the MC Taxi pilot. 

Full text of the open letter reads:

Grab Philippines, you already have an accreditation in the motorcycle taxi pilot through Move It, in which you have a 99% ownership stake. Why are you asking for a second accreditation for Grab Bike? A double “franchise” for Grab Philippines sidelines seven other Filipino applicants to enter the MC Taxi pilot. 

In articles published in major publications on February 28, 2024, it was reported that Grab Philippines’s bid to enter the MC Taxi pilot is just awaiting final regulatory approval. These reports were also accompanied by a letter dated December 20, 2023 addressed to Grab Philippines from Atty. Teofilo E. Guadiz III that, interestingly, has already been superseded by a letter dated February 1, 2024 which stated that Grab Philippines, through Grab Bike, is not authorized to operate under the MC Taxi pilot.

It’s curious how there’s no mention of Move It, a subsidiary of Grab Philippines, in any of the reports. Move It, one of the original participants of the MC Taxi pilot along with Angkas and Joyride, is currently operating in Metro Manila and appears to have expanded its operations to Metro Cebu and Cagayan de Oro even without a confirmed allocation for these areas. Its services are also heavily advertised on the Grab superapp.

According to your own statements, your acquisition of Move It would pave the way for Grab to enter the MC Taxi market. The acquisition came after your initial partnership with Move It—which allowed Move It’s services to be accessible through the Grab platform—was permanently terminated by the MC Taxi Technical Working Group on the basis that it would make you a de facto fourth player in the MC Taxi pilot. 

For all intents and purposes, you own and are in full control of Move It. Through Move It, you are already a participant in the MC Taxi pilot. Why are you in a hurry to join the MC Taxi pilot with a second entry?

If you are to be believed, your goal in entering the MC Taxi sector is the creation of jobs and the