MANILA, Philippines — Ride-hailing company Grab Philippines is testing another transport solution in Metro Manila, this time emulating the point-to-point (P2P) system of premium buses and shuttle vans.
In an advisory, Grab said it is partnering with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in testing another carpool solution, called Sabay Sakay, for commuters in Metro Manila.
For the initial run of the program, Grab is bringing the Sabay Sakay to the Pasig-Makati corridor, one of the busiest during rush hour.
The Sabay Sakay operates like a premium bus or a shuttle van (UV Express), moving passengers on a P2P basis. For the Pasig-Makati service of the program, the Sabay Sakay stops at only two points: Ayala Malls The 30th in Meralco Avenue and Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.
In the morning, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., the Sabay Sakay picks up passengers at Ayala Malls The 30th and drops them off at Ayala Triangle. In the evening, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the service goes in the reverse direction.
Passengers have to pay a flat fare of P80 in yet another similarity to P2P services.
Based on Grab’s guidelines, passengers have to head to the Sabay Sakay pickup point during the designated time periods to avail themselves of the service.
Grab has deployed attendants at the pickup point to verify if the destination matches the drop-off area, and if it does, passengers can scan a QR code to pay their fare cashless.
Grab committed that Sabay Sakay cars depart the pickup point at least every 10 minutes. Grab is confident the solution would contribute to traffic decongestion by moving more people with fewer cars.
In another interview, Grab Philippines managing director Ronald Roda confirmed that the company is expanding its fleet at the Clark International Airport.