PCC monitoring Grab’s incentives for driver-partners

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is monitoring transport network company Grab Philippines’ incentives scheme for its driver-partners to ensure it is fair to its competitors.

“Babantayan din namin ang incentives nila kasi baka nadi-discourage ang ilang driver na magserbisyo sa ibang rider hailing app,” PCC Commissioner Johannes Bernabe said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV on Saturday.

Despite the presence of other app-based ride-hailing firms, Grab still captures 99% of passengers, Bernabe said.

“Ang atin pong binabantayan ngayon ay kung paano nila ine-exercise ang kanilang monopoly power,” he said.

“Walang mataas na kakumpitensya ang Grab sa ngayon,” he added.

The PCC in November ordered Grab to refund P5 million to passengers for violating its voluntary commitments it made to the anti-trust watchdog.

The PCC also earlier this month ordered Grab to refund another P14.15 million to passengers, also for violating voluntary commitments made during another period.

“Sa kalagitnaan ng taon, nakitaan namin ng paglabag ang Grab,” Bernabe said.

Grab Philippines on Thursday said it will start disbursing refunds to select passengers on December 31 as ordered by the PCC, but the company announced a minimum amount spent to qualify for the payment.

In a statement, Grab said the payments to passengers will be made available via GrabPay Wallet accounts on Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

According to Grab, it will refund P1 for every P1,200.00 total fares a passenger spent from February 10 until May 10 this year.

It will also refund P1 for every P450 in total fares spent by passengers from May 11 to August 10, 2019. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News