LTFRB States Grab Yet to Receive License for Motorcycle Taxi Service

MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday clarified the status of Grab Philippines, Inc. in the ongoing motorcycle taxi pilot study, noting that the company is still awaiting a license to launch its motorcycle taxi service.

According to Philippines News Agency, while Grab has been confirmed as a participant in the motorcycle taxi pilot study, highlighted by a letter from his office and a subsequent site inspection by the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (TWG) on January 8, the company has not yet received final regulatory approval to commence operations.

Guadiz elaborated that Grab’s ongoing recruitment of drivers, in anticipation of launching their motorcycle taxi service, falls within the current guidelines set by the TWG and is not in violation of any regulations. However, he emphasized that Grab has not been granted full authorization to activate its motorcycle taxi service within the Grab app. “Concerning the actual activation of any motorcycle taxi app or service on the Grab app, this agency confirms that Grab is yet to receive full authorization from the MC taxi TWG,” Guadiz stated, reaffirming the LTFRB’s commitment to maintaining fair competition among all participants in the motorcycle taxi pilot study.

The clarification comes in the wake of allegations regarding Grab’s illegal operation of a motorcycle taxi service following reports of their exclusion from the pilot study. Grab’s chief operating officer, Ronald Roda, refuted these allegations on Tuesday, underscoring that the company is in the process of obtaining final regulatory approval from the TWG and has not been subjected to any stop orders regarding its preparation activities for the motorcycle taxi service.