Business

Grab, MOVE IT use fast support for driver partners amid rising fuel prices

  • Both platforms are rolling out multi-layered driver support programs that include fuel rebates, benefit protection, and increased incentives as pump prices reach record levels.
  • MOVE IT unveils PowerPasada, a dedicated fuel efficiency system for our motorcycle rider partners.

As Grab and MOVE IT drivers face the sharpest fuel price hikes in recent memory, both platforms are implementing a driver support program designed to protect the wages and lives of tens of thousands of drivers, delivery-, and passenger partners across the country.

The intervention comes amid unprecedented price increases driven by escalating conflicts in the Middle East and global supply disruptions.

With diesel prices rising by double digits in one week and petrol recording its ninth consecutive weekly increase, the cost of staying on the road has become a pressing concern for the drivers of a network of ride-hailing, delivery and motorbike taxis.

The support program is based on three pillars: fuel cost exemption, income protection, and regulatory involvement – reflecting the deliberate decision of both Grab and MOVE IT to limit the impact of the crisis on the driver network while maintaining service reliability for passengers.

“What is most important to us is to help ensure that our drivers continue to provide for their families in an efficient and fair manner, while maintaining the reliability of passenger service and the sustainability of the platform as we collectively navigate the volatility of the global fuel market,” said Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda.

“Fair wages are what keep drivers on the road. This is also important at a time when many Filipino families may look to shared transportation to help manage the impact of the ongoing oil price shock on privately owned vehicles,” he added.

Why it matters to drivers and the riding public

When fuel costs rise, the first to feel the pinch are drivers who take these costs out of their pockets every day. If left unchecked, rising costs force drivers to go offline, reducing the availability and reliability that riders rely on. By operating now, Grab and MOVE IT are also investing in the ride experience: ensuring that Filipinos who rely on location-based transportation for daily trips, medical trips, deliveries, and family activities can continue to rely on safe and reliable service.

Pillar 1: Liberalization of fuel costs directly through industry cooperation

In partnership with Seaoil in all major branches nationwide, Caltex nationwide, and Blu Energy in selected cities, co-drivers who use four-wheelers and two-wheelers can save up to P4 a liter of fuel. Grab and MOVE IT also continue to build partnerships with other fuel brands to improve the reach of the program at all participating stations across the country.

In addition, Grab Finance is launching a targeted fuel savings program with the Shell Fuel Card for nearly 20,000 eligible drivers and passengers nationwide. From March 16, 2026 until the end of March, eligible partners who refuel using their active Grab Finance Shell Fuel cards will receive a P3 discount per liter, with the excess rebate credited directly to them, per mechanic.

Pillar 2: Income protection and extended benefits

GrabCar driver-partners will benefit from commission discounts under a renewed incentive model designed to stabilize take-home benefits by returning more value to drivers through real-time per-trip reimbursement and targeted commission discounts, especially during peak periods when fuel costs are high.

For GrabFood delivery partners who use motorbikes, Grab checks the P3 Spot bonus for each delivery completed nationwide, regardless of the number of online hours or trips completed. The fuel increase was measured by the current fuel price movement and the average fuel consumption on the platform, while the most active delivery partners currently consume about three liters per day.

Recognizing that our fellow motorcyclists operate in very different economies, MOVE IT introduces the Power Pasada – a dedicated fuel-efficient system designed from the ground up for two-wheeled transportation. The program includes fuel allowances for monthly refills for active partners, as well as AM/PM incentives for all partners who ride during peak demand.

Pillar 3: Active control and participation

Grab and MOVE IT are holding consultations with the LTFRB and the DoTr on the impact of fuel burn on taxi riders and motorcyclists. The government recently announced a P5,000 fuel subsidy for affected transportation workers, distributed by the DSWD in collaboration with the DoTr, with government officials indicating that TNVS experts are included among the eligible sectors.

“We thank the DoTr and the DSWD for recognizing TNVS experts as equal partners in keeping the country’s transportation ecosystem alive,” said United Transportation Coalition Philippines President Lisza Buscaino-Redulla. “We will continue to work with platforms like Grab to help ensure that support systems are always responsive and appropriately scaled to market movements.”

Both platforms continue to work with the DoTr and DICT to explore ways to support nearby fueling for motorcycle taxis and delivery professionals where needed.

“It is important that the entire transportation community works together to find the right support systems as we collectively try to survive this oil challenge,” said Motorcycle Taxi Community Philippines Chairman Romeo Maglunsod. “Platforms and governments must ensure that drivers not only endure this period, but continue to have decent health and strong environmental support – so our families are fed, our needs are met, and we can continue to thrive as transport workers despite the oil crisis.”

Commitment to the long journey

Grab and MOVE IT make sure today’s steps are the first answer, not the last. Both platforms are committed to monitoring real-time developments in the global oil market and are ready to adjust support as conditions change. They will continue to work with regulators, transportation organizations, and driver communities to ensure that the nation’s ride-hailing and delivery system remains strong — and that the drivers who do so are properly supported.

 


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