Move over Grab, you’ve got some competition coming your way.
The Philippines’ Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday accredited two homegrown ride-hailing apps, which means the Grab monopoly isn’t going to last for long.
Grab, a Singapore-based company present in most of Southeast Asia, acquired Uber’s operations in the region late last month.
Like Grab, Hype partners with private vehicles, but it can also be used without an internet connection because it allows users to book rides via traditional text messaging.
HirNa, on the other hand, is an app for hailing taxis. It does not charge a booking fee and will follow the rates of metered taxis. It’s currently only available in Davao City, but the company plans to expand to other regional hubs like Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, and Pampanga.
Both Hype and HirNa’s accreditations will be valid for two years.
On Monday, the Uber app officially shut down in the Philippines, making Grab the only option for commuters who don’t want to deal with Manila’s notorious taxi drivers.
This has caused concern for the anti-trust watchdog Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). On Monday, it ordered Grab and Uber to explain the acquisition and why Uber was shut down even though they ordered that it continue operations while they are reviewing the deal.
Some passengers have also noted that Grab’s fares have increased since Uber operations stopped.
On Tuesday, the LTFRB also probed Grab about its per-minute charge on passengers, which was allegedly implemented without notifying the regulatory board.
