A network of digital advocates said that Grab is trying to get brownie points from the government despite facing complaints and penalties.
Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo said that Grab’s latest move of making an investment pledge to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr is nothing but an “utter fluff” that is meant to cover up for its violations.
“Grab has no business making these pledges when it is still facing complaints and has not even fully paid the P25.45 Million penalty imposed by government.”
It can be recalled that the Philippine Competition Commission penalized Grab multiple times for non-compliance with its pricing and service commitments. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also penalized Grab in 2018 for illegally imposing P2 per minute charge. Grab was summoned once again by the LTFRB December last year for charging P85 base fare.
Gustilo said that In a hearing of the Committee on Metro Manila Development, the Philippine Competition Commission disclosed that Grab has not yet fully paid its penalties. However, there was no update on the status of compliance that was made public after the hearing.
“In the interest of transparency and justice for our commuters, we are urging the LTFRB and the PCC to make public the compliance status of Grab’s penalties hereon. The public needs to know.”
Gustilo also said that the government and the public should be wary of promises made by Grab despite its numerous violations and non-settlement of its penalties.
“We should be careful before believing promises made by Grab. They have made-and broken promises before. We were promised that we will get lower fares, but look at the fare prices now. And stop making pledges if you haven’t even settled your penalties yet.”
