A consumer group hailed Grab Philippines' acquisition of motorcycle taxi firm MoveIt as a welcome development that will help ease the burden of commuters, particularly those in Metro Manila.

Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente said the investment agreement between Grab and MoveIt also spells good news for motorcycle taxi drivers whose livelihoods depend on ride-hailing apps.

According to BK3, the deal offers an alternative and reassurance to some commuters knowing it would result in additional 6,000 partner-riders from the current more or less 1,000 MoveIt riders.

"This is a huge help for us who are working hard to ensure that we can sustain our livelihood," said BK3 convenor Prof. Louie C. Montemar. "Aside from the stress in our jobs, we also face a dilemma when waiting for public transport."

"The additional motorcycle taxis of MoveIt is a welcome development," he added.

Motorcycle taxis have yet to be officially legalized as a form of public transportation and are currently operating under a pilot study.

However, Congress is now working on a number of bills seeking to legitimize and regulate the motorcycle ride-hailing services in the country.

Montemar said the additional MoveIt riders will definitely augment public transportation in the nation's capital region, which had already reached crisis proportions even before the pandemic.

"Even before the pandemic, we already had problems with our public transport system," said Montemar. "And now that the economy is opening up anew from lockdowns and the return of in-person classes, we are now facing another problem in the sector."

Montemar described the Grab-MoveIt investment deal as a "display of genuine concern for our countrymen who regularly use public transportation."