Ride-hailing firms take steps to help drivers cope
Ride-hailing companies have introduced a variety of measures to help their drivers cope with the impact of high fuel prices triggered by the Middle East conflict.
inDrive on Friday said it had rolled out P2.7 million worth of fuel discounts “to ease the financial strain of rising fuel costs, enabling drivers to continue operating without compromising their earnings or passing additional costs on to passengers.”
The company said this package would supplement the government’s P5,000 fuel subsidy for transport workers, including transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers.
“We recognize platforms like inDrive have the responsibility to provide sustainable solutions to help them, while maintaining reliable and affordable rides for our passengers,” Sofia Guinto, country manager of inDrive Philippines, said in a statement.
Drivers can avail themselves of the discounts through the PriceLOCQ app offered at refilling stations operated by SeaOil, inDrive’s partner for the initiative.
They may also get a SeaOil VIP Rides loyalty card which offers points-based rewards that can be used for fuel and other vehicle-related expenses.
Commissions
The company also introduced a zoning feature aimed at boosting earnings in high-demand areas called “purple zones,” where commissions due to inDrive can go as low as 1 percent per trip to give drivers a larger share of their income.
It is significantly lower than the 10-percent commission that inDrive charges for bookings outside the purple zones, the company said.
inDrive said it continues to shoulder the mandated 20-percent discount for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students without deducting the cost from driver earnings.
Grab drivers, including those under motorcycle taxi arm Move It, have also been provided support, such as the P3-per-liter fuel rebates available at Shell stations until March 31.
Grab has also partnered with Caltex, Seaoil and Blu Energy so its ride-hailing and food-delivery drivers can get P4-per-liter rebates in their stations.
Drivers under GrabCar can also get commission rebates and “real-time cashback per trip” under a revised incentive scheme aimed at increasing their take-home earnings during busier periods, the company said.
Delivery riders under GrabFood will receive a P3 bonus for every completed delivery.
“Grab and Move It affirmed that today’s measures are a first response, not a final one,” the company said. “Both platforms have committed to monitoring real-time developments in the global oil market and are prepared to adjust support as conditions evolve.”
