Head-to-head with rival, Uber enables cash payments

MANILA, Philippines — Ride-sharing service Uber in the Philippines on Tuesday rolled out a cash payment scheme, giving users an option to to book a ride without using credit cards.

Uber's move, similar to the payment system long used by rival platform GrabCar, made the Philippines the fifth country globally and second in Southeast Asia where cash payments have been enabled for its riders.

Laurence Cua, Uber Philippines general manager, said riders in Metro Manila find it "really important" to have the option of paying with cash.

"We want everyone to enjoy the hassle-free convenience of ordering a safe ride at the push of a button. The tests we’ve done in India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam have been hugely successful," Cua said in statement.

Uber said, however, that not all riders will find a cash option on their apps in the initial stages of the new offer.

"We are testing different groups and user preferences. It will roll out gradually to all riders over the next few weeks," the company said.

He said the company will gather costumer insights from the "experiment" and develop the platform accordingly. — Camille Diola