As oil prices continue to rise in the past few weeks, the public transport sector has already made its appeal to LTFRB to increase base fares. LTFRB recently approved the fare increase for PUJs, and it is the turn of TNVS providers like Grab to appeal for a fare hike.
In the case of Grab, they are asking for a Php 20 base fare hike to bring relief to their partner drivers amidst the series of oil price increases. Grab Senior Director for Strategy and Operations Ronald Roda said that they are set to attend a hearing on the fare hike petition on June 29 with the LTFRB.
“We had to do it (base fare hike proposal) not for us but because our drivers are asking for it. We did it for our drivers,” Roda explained, adding that around 10 to 20% of their partner driver’s earnings are cut due to expensive gas prices.
Currently, the base far for GrabCar is from Php 40-50, with an additional Php 15-18 per kilometer. GrabTaxi, on the other hand, has a base fare of Php 40, with an additional Php 13.50 per kilometer.
Given that partner drivers have 10 rides daily on average (as much as 14 rides if traffic is not as bad), the proposed Php 20 fare hike translates to an additional Php 200 take-home pay for them. “That’s what we’re just asking now. It’s not a full price increase but something that is faster just to be able to help the community,” Roda adds.
