In a notable step towards modernizing transportation services, Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez and Grab Philippines have agreed to form a partnership.
This collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the City Mayor’s Office recently.
Present during the event were Engr. Loben Rafael Ceballos, Atty. Marty Go, and Grab’s Country Public Affairs Booey Bonifacio, Region Manager Jo-Ann Yoshida, and Operations Head for VisMin Jay Lim.
Benitez said the city government will include up to 40 units of vehicles, including 20 new units under procurement, to be pooled for the Mayor Albee B. Benitez (MABB) Cab.
The partnership aims to leverage Grab’s cutting-edge ride-hailing technology for the benefit of government-employed drivers in Bacolod City.
By offering their proprietary platform, Grab intends to revolutionize the booking and management of these drivers, promising a host of advantages.
Key highlights of the proposal include introducing a user-friendly mobile application and web platform, directly connecting employees with government drivers.
This innovative approach aims to streamline the booking process, reduce administrative hassles, and optimize the allocation of resources.
Furthermore, the ultimate goal is to provide reliable and convenient transportation options for city employees on official duties.
“This is free of charge.”
“This (use of the Grab platform) is free of charge. It does two things. One, we know a lot of people use Grab, so it’s easier for them (city employees), and two, we will have analytics that will tell me where they are going,” the mayor said.
“It would be easier to liquidate payment of gasoline and other expenses because we have a digital copy of their movement and transactions.”
“A third benefit is it would be easier to liquidate payment of gasoline and other expenses because we have a digital copy of their movement and transactions,” he added.
In addition, the cars for this initiative will be equipped with a smartphone. This technological integration will further enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the service.
Grab’s partnership with Bacolod City represents a significant stride towards a more streamlined and accessible government transportation system, while promising a more efficient and accessible service for its workforce.
