MANILA, Philippines — Grab Philippines opened a new feature that will extend free transport services for health workers, who are in the frontline in the fight against coronavirus disease in the country.
The ride-hailing firm implemented Grab Bayanihan Car service, which will help medical employees reach their hospitals as public mass transport services are suspended during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Grab Philippines also clarified that the app’s services is still pending approval from the national government.
“GrabBayanihan Car service will provide round-the-clock, free-of-charge transportation service for healthcare workers. Each GrabBayanihan Car will ferry up to two healthcare workers at a time in accordance with the government’s social distancing guidelines,” read the statement on Saturday.
“All GrabBayanihan Cars will be marked so that healthcare workers and public order officials can easily distinguish them from other private vehicles,” it added.
The GrabBayanihan will initially deploy 100 volunteer driver-partners following official approval from the government’s task force.
GrabBayanihan Cars will have a clear plastic sheet to separate the driver from passengers and lessen the risk of contamination.
Drivers of the Grab Bayanihan will receive minimum daily income of P550 for eight hours of service and P300 worth of gas vouchers.
Aside from this, the company deployed 50 of its e-scooters to local governments of Manila, Quezon City, San Juan, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Marikina, and Pasig for health care workers and barangay officials in these cities.
Grab Philippines also encouraged health workers to inform their hospital administrators in requesting for GrabBayanihan Car service for their entire hospital.
“Hospital administrators may fill up https://go.grab.com/grabbayanihan to indicate their interest to join the ride service. A Grab representative will be in touch with the hospital to help them set up the service,” read the statement.