Grab Philippines said it is working closely with taxi operators across the country to train and help adopt cashless transactions during rides.
“As we move towards the new reality, we would need to make significant adjustments in many aspects of our lives so that we can protect both the lives and livelihoods of our kababayans. Over a short period of time, we were able to help our taxi drivers—who are previously cash-based and meter-based, embrace digitalization, and adapt to cashless,” Brian Cu, president of Grab Philippines said.
“We believe that by adopting cashless payment for public transportation, we will reduce the risk of spreading the infection through cash, but likewise improve our contact tracing capability,” he added.
For many years, taxis have been largely meter-based and cash-based, and with the advancements in technology, going cashless has been a tall order for many taxi operators and drivers. Within days, Grab was able to conduct training programs for thousands of taxi drivers and operators, highlighting the ease of using GrabPay for accepting cashless payments, as well as several safety and hygiene best practices that taxi drivers can learn from.
Aside from preventing the spread of infection brought about by the exchange of cash, adapting cashless payments coupled with the Grab platform’s robust contact tracing system with the DOH, will also allow for improved contact tracing capabilities especially in public transportation such as taxis.
Starting May 22, around 400 taxi drivers from Baguio and Naga Cities will resume plying the roads, implementing cashless transactions during rides.
Awaiting the resumption of public transportation in other cities, Grab has trained and prepared almost 7,000 taxi drivers to likewise conduct cashless rides.
The Department of Transportation earlier partnered with GCash to enable taxi drivers to accept digital payments through the revolutionary Scan to Pay (STP) app via the QR technology of GCash.
Using this app, GCash users only need to scan the unique QR code of the taxi unit they are riding in paying for their metered fares.
“Cashless and contactless payment scheme will now be part of the ‘new normal’ in the public transportation system. This should not be treated by taxi operators as another transaction cost,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
“Rather, this move intends to limit direct physical contact between drivers and their passengers and help stop the spread of COVID-19. I am very grateful to GCash for making this new arrangement happen,” he added.
Aside from GCash, the government is in talks with other electronic payment providers which include Squidpay, Paymaya, Beep, among others.