Ride-hailing company Grab will suspend its GrabShare service in Manila and Cebu starting Mar. 13, Friday, amid concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Grab will be suspending its GrabShare services in Metro Manila and Cebu starting March 13, 12NN, and will resume as soon as the public health situation de-escalates,” reads a statement from Grab’s Media Office, as stated in an Inquirer report. Furthermore, the suspension is said to encourage social distancing, a necessary precautionary measure against COVID-19.
The ride hailing company assures that its other more private transport services such as GrabTaxi, GrabCar and GrabPremium will remain available for its commuters and its usual price price ranges would not be affected.
Netizens and customers all over social media however, worry that the suspension of the ride hailing app’s most affordable riding option will drive more people into crowded transportation vehicles.
Mas safe pa nga ang grabshare kesa MRT at LRT. Saan ang social distancing🤦🏼♀️ @grabph https://t.co/8b2GJZO2AU
— chie Lang 💜 (@milkteaking02) March 12, 2020
Suspended ang GrabShare? Expect na kayo ng GrabCar fares na presyuhang concert ticket lol
— e (@_inxgun) March 12, 2020
If you’re going to suspend GrabShare, then those GrabCar rates better lower down
— Issa 🐼 (@issapandas) March 12, 2020
Grab Philippines’ President Brian Cu just yesterday, Mar. 11, tested negative for COVID-19 after allegations that he was positive after interacting with an employee that tested positive for the disease from Grab’s corporate office in Singapore. In the statement, Grab Philippines also reminds passengers to observe good personal hygiene and plan their trips ahead to help contain the spread of the disease.
Earlier today, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 crisis a pandemic and as of writing Department of Health (DOH) has 49 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease wherein a Chinese tourist and a 67-year-old Filipino woman died.
Header photo courtesy of inquirer.net
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Writer: JOY THERESE GOMEZ
