A network of Digital advocates called on to the Department of Transportation to reconvene the motorcycle taxi technical working group.
Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo said that DOTR should reconvene the technical working group at the soonest possible time to address concerns arising from the MC taxi pilot study.
“In the absence of a technical working group, several issues, including the acquisition of Move It by Grab, have already arisen and should be addressed immediately.”
Gustilo also said that the stand of DOTR Secretary Jaime Bautista that the agency will not investigate Grab’s acquisition of Move It is unfortunate, given that the agency is a part of the technical working group.
“It is unfortunate that this is the view of the transportation secretary, given that they have a leadership role in the
TWG. However, the MC Taxi pilot study is a creation of Congress, in aid of legislation. Therefore, it is imperative that they convene the TWG as soon as possible.”
Gustilo also said that Grab’s offer for a commercial partnership agreement with Move It was already rejected by the TWG.
“Previously, Grab tried to join the pilot study via a commercial partnership agreement with Move It which was rejected by the TWG because it will involve another player outside of the accredited operators. In what universe is an acquisition acceptable if a partnership was disallowed? Grab is clearly using Move It so that it can join the pilot study. Whichever way they may say it, Move It is not independent of Grab and is just a mask of the TNVS giant in the mc taxi pilot study.”###