Dumagete Trike Sector Leader Urges Study of Planned 'PediGrab' Service

One of the leaders of the tricycle sector in Dumaguete City is seeking a study on the proposal to establish a modernized tricycle booking service here.

In a statement on Wednesday, May 22, Eddie Lazaro of ND Motor Piston and NOFELATO pointed out the need for further study of the proposal even though they are open to the idea of the city government experimenting with 100 units of the so-called Grab Trike Premium and that an ordinance for its implementation has to undergo public hearing.

Lazaro's statement came after an Italian company, which has partnered with Grab, a company engaged in transportation booking service via a mobile phone application, presented its proposal to the city government early this week.

According to Lazaro, they also have to consider the future of the existing tricycle units once the booking service is already operational.

Lazaro said drivers were told the single motorcycles can be used for 'Grab Express' or 'Grab Food' while the sidecars can be converted to scrap iron.

In what City Hall had initially dubbed as 'PediGrab,' the proposal is now named 'Grab Trike Premium,' with the grab-a-trike system being proposed by Autoitalia Philippines Enterprises, Inc., City Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo said.

Autoitalia Philippines is a supplier of modern tricycles made in Italy, Demecillo added.

Autoitalia General Manager Miguelito L. Jose, who did the presentation before tricycle operators and the drivers association of Dumaguete at the city session hall on Monday explained his group has entered into an exclusive tie-up with Grab App for the proposed project in Dumaguete.

"This is not just to modernize the tricycle sector in the city but to provide for a lucrative source of livelihood for trike drivers and a reliable transport solution for passengers because the design is intended for comfort and convenience of commuters," he said.

Under the scheme, Grab drivers are provided with smartphones where commuters can communicate with the drivers, while other services include Grab Taxi, Grab Express, and Grab Car.

When booked, the driver and the commuter will agree on the pick-up and drop-off points, the fare matrix of which is subject to approval by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council), including the amount of the booking fee and the fare per kilometer thereafter.

In an interview, incumbent councilor and vice mayor-elect Alan Gel Cordova, who chairs the committee on transportation in the city council, disclosed that the proposal is worth a try to make use of the technology where passengers and commuters can simply call a tricycle or get semi-chartered service using the application in the cellphone.

As chairman of the committee on peace and order, Cordova said it will enhance the city's security because all the activities are recorded and reflected in the Grab system, including the face of the driver. It will also do away with part-time drivers or 'extradors' and the 'colorum' or illegal units.

A financing scheme is being addressed even as the city is toying with the idea of subsidizing 25 percent of the cost of the 100 units, which is about PHP4.5 million, while the supplier is to subsidize 5 percent.