DAVAO CITY –- Grab Philippines in Davao is optimistic that it will remain as the leading on-demand transportation and financial technology platform even with the launch of the new taxi-hailing app, Hirna.
Raenald de Jesus, deputy country marketing head of Grab, said the company has continued to grow with more than one billion rides recorded, 86 million application downloads, and the number of drivers had grown to 2.6 million.
De Jesus said Grab is present in eight cities in the country including Davao, Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Baguio, Pampanga, and Iloilo.
Thor Villareiz, senior manager of Grab Davao, said Grab is continuously improving its services and has increased its perks and incentives to strengthen a collaborative community of driver-partners and passengers.
Villareiz said Grab is currently working on a partnership with local establishments for GrabRewards exclusive for Dabawenyos.
Villareiz said Grabrewards aims to put more value on every ride by earning points that could be used to redeem offers on food, fashion, beauty, and entertainment.
Amid tougher competition, Villarreiz said its operations are not affected by Hirna, a taxi hailing app developed locally and is now used by many taxi drivers in Davao.
De Jesus added that Grab’s presence in Davao since 2014 has grown to be a “backbone of the digital economy”.
Grab, which presently has six research centers, has been operating in Davao City since 2014 when it partnered with taxi operators and drivers in Davao for GrabTaxi.
“With strong local operations, a positive network of passengers and driver-partners, and a safe and reliable environment, Grab has ushered positive social impact and transportation efficiency in Davao,” said De Jesus.
"There's a lot of room for us to grow in this city," he said, adding that the company continues to grow positively at 10 percent growth in performance.
Top performers
Meanwhile, Grab has awarded its first-quarter top performing drivers in terms of earning in taxi hailing.
Five drivers were given Pagpupugay Award as recognition of their dedication and hard work.
According to Villarreiz, GrabTaxi service has created a sustainable livelihood for its driver-partners in Davao.
He said incentives and perks are provided to stretch their earning potential, on top of their usual earning from taxi-hailing.
Grab reported that in the Philippines, driver-partners earn 35% percent more than the national average. (Lilian C. Mellejor and Digna D. Banzon/PNA)
