The Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) on Friday lauded the decision of the Department of Transportation to suspend the app merger of Grab Philippines and Move
It for an ongoing motorcycle taxi pilot run.
The suspension means commuters will no longer be able to use the Grab app to book a motorcycle taxi service from Move It.
Grab and Move It earlier signed a partnership, where commuters can book a ride from Move It through the Grab platform.
Ariel Inton, president of LCSP the group said the “app-in-app” arrangement “circumvented” the motorcycle pilot run’s programs and objectives.
In a statement, lawyer Noel Valerio, LCSP spokesman, described the alliance between Grab PH and Move It as “dubious” in nature: “It is clearly a circumvention of the (pilot) program’s guidelines since Grab, which is based in Singapore, is not part of the pilot study of the government.”
“It is also not authorized to offer motorcycle ride-hailing services, putting the lives of the passengers and riders in danger,” he added.
Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor said the agency has already ordered the two app-hailing transport companies to stop implementing the app merger to give way for an inquiry on the matter.