October 31, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Ride-hailing giant Grab Philippines may return to its pre-pandemic fleet count before the end of the year following the government’s decision to add cars for transport network vehicle services (TNVS).
Grab Philippines managing director Ronald Roda yesterday said the super app is on track to reach this year its pre-pandemic fleet, estimated at about 60,000 in 2019.
In September, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced it is issuing certificates of public convenience (CPC) for new TNVS operators in Metro Manila to boost transport supply ahead of the holiday season.
The common supply base for TNVS in Metro Manila is 65,000 as identified in 2018. However, the LTFRB said 13,369 CPCs have expired without an application for extension as of June, and this trimmed TNVS supply in Metro Manila.
“I think with the upcoming number of cars, we might (hit our pre-pandemic fleet) depending on how many we could get. But yes, traditionally, it is taking us forever to get back to pre-pandemic supply,” Roda said.
Roda noted that Grab has struggled to retrieve its pre-pandemic fleet after mobility requirements changed drastically in the lockdown aftermath.
Grab was most popular as a home-to-office transport prior to the pandemic, Roda said, but this is no longer the case these days, as customers are booking for leisure purposes mostly.
“People work from home, so it is not the same anymore. Pre-pandemic, the number one use case for Grab is office, but today, it’s leisure. It has changed because of habits and work,” Roda said.
Grab yesterday launched in Marikina City its first livelihood facility of its kind in Southeast Asia called Asenso Center. The hub stands on a one-hectare property, and Grab will use it to introduce partners to digital tools.
Likewise, the Asenso Center serves as a one-stop shop for drivers, merchants and riders to access social security. The facility houses onboarding channels from the Social Security System; Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Philippine Health Insurance Corp.; and private insurers such as AXA and Chubb.
In 2022, Grab pledged to President Marcos to create up to 500,000 livelihoods in the Philippines. Roda said the company has reached 73 percent of that commitment to date.
Further, Grab grew the number of merchants on its app by 30 percent on a yearly basis, as it goes aggressive in onboarding more sellers to expand their market presence.
