GrabCar goes to Naia amid much protest

TRANSPORT service providers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) are up in arms over GrabCar’s appearing to be favored in its airport operation.

The Airport Transport Concessionaire Association Inc. (ATCAI) described GrabCar as a “semi-colorum” operation, noting the transportation network company (TNC) only needed its own stickers to gain entry into the highly secured Naia complex.

GrabCar officially started operations at the Naia complex on Monday.

According to ATCAI spokesperson Romeo Sayaman, their companies, vehicles and employees were subjected to strict scrutiny before they were allowed to transport Naia passengers.

“We had to be accredited by the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), the MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) and the DOT (Department of Tourism) before we could operate here,” Sayaman said.

“Our drivers needed to undergo security awareness seminars given by the MIAA. We needed to abide by all the vehicular requirements… It takes months, or at most a year, before an operator is completely allowed to operate here,” he said.

He said all his group wanted was fair play.

“We were told a Grab sticker was enough to allow their cars access to the Naia complex,” Sayaman added.

Citing a GrabCar that had picked up passengers, he said airport rules prohibited drivers without uniforms—particularly shoes—and with heavily tinted vehicles from plying the airport route. The ATCAI spokesperson added that Grab drivers did not have to undergo security screening which could endanger passengers.

“We are not against Grab’s operation at Naia. All we are asking is fair competition,” Sayaman said. He added that they were consulted by the MIAA about Grab “taxis” but not about Grab “cars.”

David de Castro, spokesperson of the MIAA general manager’s office, told the

Inquirer, “Our conditions for TNCs is for them to be covered by the MIAA traffic management policy, for the Grab booth personnel to undergo an airport security seminar, and for them to provide the MIAA with a system to monitor rides.”

De Castro clarified that its agreement with GrabCar was a “business collaboration” and not a concessionaire contract, where the TNC “pays MIAA.” With a report from Jaymee T. Gamil