DoT, Grab introduce scooter tourism

Grab Philippines will be setting up booths inside Intramuros where visitors can readily use the scooters. #GrabWheels #scootertour

Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat tries a GrabWheels scooter during the signing of an MOU on the piloting of the tourism transport service in Intramuros, Manila. (DoT)

Tourists can have a more personal yet convenient tour of historic Intramuros using a scooter from Grab Philippines.

The ride-hailing service provider has deployed 30 units of scooters that can initially be rented for free for three months starting September as part of its agreement with the Department of Tourism (DoT).

On Wednesday, DoT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Grab Philippines President Brian Cu signed a memorandum of understanding for the scooter rental that she described as an effort to inculcate a culture of sustainable tourism in the Philippines.

“We want visitors to have access to an eco-friendly but fun mode of transportation,” she said.

According to Cu, Grab Philippines will be setting up booths inside Intramuros where visitors can readily use the scooters. After the pilot testing, the rentals would be made via a mobile application called GrabWheels.

“This is a pilot to see what the uptake will be, if we see that there is a good response from the visitors in this area, we might extend the trial period or select other locations,” he said in an interview.

Romulo-Puyat said no new destination has been agreed upon yet but the DoT wants to put up similar service at the Rizal Park and Paco Park in Manila.

“It’s now for Intramuros for the meantime and then we’ll see how it goes then we’ll expand,” she told reporters. “This is the good thing with having a partnership with the private sector, there’s more involvement in promoting the country’s tourism.”

Intramuros Administration chief Guiller Asido, for his part, is optimistic these personal mobility devices would significantly reduce traffic congestion inside the walled city.

“After a month, we will review its reception and determine the necessary mechanisms and setting of fees to make it sustainable,” he said.