Perpe Discoacido, Jr., a 44-year-old family man from Santa Rosa, Laguna, leaves home by 7:00 AM to begin his shift as a GrabFood delivery partner. Working 8 to 9 hours each day, Perpe has made this daily routine second nature to him. Even doing it with a smile as a dedicated and determined five-year veteran in the company.
Grab Philippines invited Malaya Business Insight to experience a day in the life of Perpe.
The App Experience
Grab has harnessed technology to enhance its platform and maximize the earning potential of delivery partners. One standout feature of the GrabFood driver app is the heat map, which highlights areas with high demand for bookings. The booking page is where partners can track net earnings, payment modes, service types, and pick-up and drop-off locations.
Kuya Perpe’s Insights
While awaiting bookings, Perpe shared “What I appreciate about Grab is that I don’t have to travel far,” he explained. Unlike other platforms, Grab drivers do not need to go to Metro Manila to get bookings. Perpe said, “Here in Laguna, I can stay close to home.” Perpe, emphasizing that his earnings provide more than enough for his family’s needs, takes pride in being able to support the education of his daughter who is just starting college .
The Role of Technology
Technology serves as the backbone of super apps like Grab. One vital feature is the feedback system that allows customers to rate both delivery partners and merchants after each delivery. This feedback is crucial to identifying areas for improvement and enhancing customer experiences.
Feedback also motivates drivers to maintain high service standards. Ratings also influence incentives as delivery partners earn gems for each delivery that can be converted into cash or vouchers.
Grab aims for its drivers’ earnings to align with the “family wage,” which is two to three times the minimum wage in urban areas. This concept of “Shared Prosperity” allows both the platform and its partners to grow together. An independent study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) found that Grab’s innovative model offers flexible and substantial livelihood opportunities; on average, drivers earn PHP 5,699 per week—above the industry average.
Advocacy and Community Engagement
Perpe also serves as an advocate within Grab’s Ugnayan Network—a group of community ambassadors chosen based on performance, character, and willingness to volunteer to help as during Super Typhoon Kristine.
Walking a kilometer in someone else’s shoes fosters appreciation for their life experiences. Throughout our day, we felt the thrill of successful bookings and deliveries while also experiencing the anxiety of awaiting orders to come through. We learned about their aspirations and what keeps them motivated.
“Kami pong mga Grab drivers ay hindi lang delivery drivers; may pangarap po kami na maiahon ang pamilya sa hirap at matustusan ang mga pangangailangan nila,” Perpe shared passionately.
As we concluded our experience, we left with a deeper appreciation of the hard work and dedication of GrabFood delivery partners— their daily challenges, their dreams. A reminder that behind every meal delivered is a story waiting to be told.
