The order delays Grab’s eventual takeover of Uber
While Uber has officially sold its Southeast Asia business to rival Grab a few weeks ago, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has ordered Uber to continue its operations beyond the planned end-of-service on April 8.
Following a public hearing held last April 5, the antitrust watchdog ordered Uber to continue its operations, even if both ride-hailing apps rejected the PCC’s status quo order. The PCC’s order implies that the merger will be delayed for weeks, or even months pending their review of the case.
“This virtual monopolization of the market by Grab can harm the riding public,” PCC Chairman Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement, adding that Uber will become a part-owner of Grab and will not exit the Philippine market for good following the deal.
The delay of Grab’s takeover of Uber is not applicable to the Philippines alone. In Singapore, the Competition and Consumer Commission Singapore (CCCS) has ordered both Uber and Grab to delay the closure of the Uber app in Singapore to April 15Â as the antitrust watchdog continues to assess the implications of the merger deal.
Both Uber and Grab have yet responded to the PCC’s latest order as of this writing.
