Grabe the Grab — Angkas on Angkas

Many friends and colleagues could not stop trading “war stories” while they fought hand to phone combats with other commuters trying to book a Grab ride last week especially last Friday evening when even my wife and I could not drive out of Barrio Kapitolyo at 1:30 am because Shaw Boulevard was clogged all the way down to C5. Just about everyone commented that it was as if Grab itself went off line (but they didn’t). Everybody simply assumed that there were far too many passengers compared to the limited number of Grab units. That simplified answer may help rationalize the lack of rides but it also promotes ignorance on the matter.

Many of us, forget the nature of the beast that is Grab. It’s a “Ride Sharing” system where the vehicles and or drivers are generally part timers. Unlike the old taxis that use to have their “operating hours” or “car barn” time painted on their front fenders, today’s Grab rides share a ride or pick up passengers when they want to or when it is convenient or fits their schedule. The government regulators may treat Grab rides just like any public utility or Taxi model transport but the truth is they are not. Taxis generally run on a fixed schedule. Back in the day it was 8-hour shifts, then that turned into 12-hour shifts and now it’s quite common to hear drivers talk about 24-hour straight shifts. Grab rides on the other hand are dependent on the vehicle owner. If it’s owner driven, then chances are these part-time entrepreneurs will be sharing their ride only when they have free time, want to make extra money, or have nothing else on their schedule. But just like the rest of us, they probably have a lot of activities at this time of the year.

Many Grab owner/drivers work in an office and chances are they’re more preoccupied with year-end targets and activities than taking you to the mall. Many of them also have children with school presentations, Christmas parties and exchange gifts that require their undivided attention. Last but not the least, just like you they also have their own flurry of Christmas activities to address. This is the sobering reality about “Ride Sharing.” Some of us have mistakenly treated Ride Sharing and assumed they are glorified Taxis to be there upon our beck and call. That unfortunately that does not work especially during holidays and “peak hours.”

Before the entry of “Ride Sharing,” Taxi drivers generally did not have a choice. They would drive because it was their job and their family’s hand to mouth needs depended on it. It is a real example of “No Work - No Pay - No Eat” situation. The only liberty they would take is to pick or refuse rides to areas that were too far or meant that the return drive would be empty. Today’s Grab drivers who don’t own the units can opt out of the system if the traffic is simply insane which is what has been happening as of last week. Grab might call it a demand surge but the reality is that many drivers simply had better things to do than be stuck in traffic with you. Yes Ride Sharing may have improved the quality and accessibility to “glorified” taxis but they won’t always be there when you need them.

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Call me suspicious but I have a not so funny feeling that an unseen hand or vested interest wants to Angkas on the motorcycle taxi system that “Angkas” the company has been developing, investing on, and pushing to be officially approved by government. In case you’re wondering; Angkas refers to a back rider. And in the motorcycle taxi system, the customer is the back rider who wants a fast, cheap and safe alternative mode of transport. But if the LTFRB has its way, “Angkas” the company might find themselves the victim of a “government sponsored” piracy.

The Technical Working Group of the LTFRB or Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board that is suppose to evaluate and make recommendations on the implementation of the Motorcycle Taxi system has reportedly announced the “Good News - Bad News” position. The Good News is that the business model may soon get the official nod after the evaluation period was extended by a few more months. The Bad News is that “Angkas” the proponent of the ride hailing Motorcycle Taxi business will be required to “trim” or remove more than a third of their registered and active riders who were trained and have invested money to become qualified “Angkas” drivers. From what I picked up on several interviews on TV and radio, the Technical Working Group wants to make sure that two new players or interested groups that want to join the motorcycle taxi business will have a chance to compete against the pioneer giant that is “Angkas.” So why force Angkas to cut its own?

If “Angkas” complies with the suggestion, they will effectively be giving the incoming business competition several thousand trained and experienced drivers on a silver platter with a note card saying “Compliments of LTFRB.” It’s so easy for the TWG to make such impositions while leaving the dirty job and blow back to Angkas. How is Angkas suppose to determine who among their driver-partners gets cut? Will the TWG be able to protect Angkas from any and all legal cases that could be filed against them? Will the TWG be compensating Angkas for their loss on investments and opportunities? This is the sort of thing that President Duterte should pay more attention to because there is already a festering notion that LTFRB officials and political appointees are “THE UNTOUCHABLES.”

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