THE country’s leading ride-hailing firm is ready to deploy 20,000 driver partners by next week once Metro Manila is placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with strict compliance to government’s health and safety regulations in order to minimized the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID19).
Grab has stated that the company has required all the driver partners to undergo training and secure a safety and hygiene certification to start operating under the GCQ. So far, out of 40,000 driver partners, 20,000 have completed the requirements with the rest of the drivers expected to be on board by end of June.
Despite the anticipated initial increase in passenger demand and low driver supply, Grab president Brian Cu said that there will be no fare increase and that the company will put a cap on surge at 1.5 times.
To assure driver-partners better income, Grab will cut down its commission from 20 percent to 10 percent in the first month of operation according to Cu.
The company has introduced GrabProtect- a robust set of initiatives and features, which include online health and hygiene checklist, a mask selfie verification tool, safety and hygiene certification, hygiene kits, mandatory deep disinfection of vehicles – all in the aim enforcing higher safety and hygiene standards for public transport in the country.
In compliance with the government regulation, GrabCar will only have a maximum seating capacity of two passengers, with each sitting close to the windows at the back of the vehicle, and will take note that only public health vehicles are allowed to transport COVID-19 positive individuals. Driver-partners will be required to keep their vehicles disinfected at all times, especially at the end of each trip. Each vehicle will have a non-permeable acetate barrier installed between the passengers and the driver-partner.
To aid in an effective contact-tracing procedure when deemed necessary, passengers are not allowed to book for others. Passengers will be required to show their booking code to their respective driver-partner before entering the assigned vehicle. Exceptions will however be made in specific cases of emergencies wherein the destination is a hospital and the account holder or companion is the one who made the booking.
By the end of June, the Grab app will prompt passengers, drivers, and delivery-partners to complete the online health and hygiene checklist, confirming they do not exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms and have adopted the necessary safety and hygiene measures before they make a booking or start driving.
According to Grab, drivers and passengers will be strongly encouraged to submit feedback through Grab’s in-app Help Centre should either party appear unwell. Individuals who have received more than one report about exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be advised to see a doctor and will have their Grab accounts temporarily put on hold until they receive medical clearance.
Grab’s new “mask selfie verification feature” will help verify that drivers and delivery-partners are wearing a mask before they start receiving bookings and orders, the company said.
Meanwhile, Grab has filed an application with the Land Franchising Regulatory Board to impose additional fare of P5 per ride to allow drivers recover the expenses on the vehicles sanitation.
