MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday clarified that Grab Philippines, Inc. has been included in the motorcycle taxi pilot study but has yet to receive a license to begin their motorcycle taxi (MC taxi) service.
In a statement, LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III confirmed Grab’s claim that a letter from his office confirmed their inclusion in the MC taxi pilot study and was followed by a site inspection by the MC Taxi Technical Working Group (TWG) on Jan. 8.
“(Grab’s) MC taxi pilot application is awaiting final regulatory approval,” Guadiz said.
Grab’s recruitment of drivers in preparation for their MC taxi service launch, he said, is not prohibited under the TWG’s existing guidelines.
“Concerning the actual activation of any MC taxi app or service on the Grab app, this agency confirms that Grab is yet to receive full authorization from the MC taxi TWG,” he said.
He assured stakeholders in the MC taxi pilot study that the LTFRB would “maintain fair competition” in the sector.
On Tuesday, Grab chief operating officer Ronald Roda rejected reports alleging their illegal MC taxi operation after their exclusion from the MC taxi pilot study.
Roda clarified that Grab is still awaiting final regulatory approval from the TWG and has not been issued any stop order against their recruitment and preparation for an MC taxi operation. (PNA)
