Grab PHL cuts commission rate to 15% on Baronda appeal

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Francis Allan L. Angelo

Ride-hailing company Grab Philippines has reduced its effective commission rate for drivers from 21% to 15% for an initial 60-day period, granting the request of Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda for relief amid rising petroleum prices.

Grab Philippines Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Sherielysse Bonifacio confirmed the cut in an April 22, 2026 letter addressed to Baronda.

“Effective 21 April 2026 for an initial period of 60 days, we reduced the effective commission rate from 21% to 15%, equivalent to roughly a 30% reduction in GrabCar’s commission revenue. This reduction is delivered through cashbacks, bonuses, and incentives,” Bonifacio wrote.

Baronda welcomed the company’s response, calling it a needed gesture during a period of economic strain on transport workers.

“I extend my gratitude to Grab Philippines for acting on my request and for granting the reduction. Such openness and helpful heart deserve our appreciation. We need to help each other to better cope with the crisis that is affecting all of us,” Baronda said.

The lawmaker first wrote to Grab Philippines and other Transport Network Companies (TNCs) on April 9, 2026, asking that commission rates be lowered so Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers could keep more of their daily earnings.

Grab Philippines responded by dispatching Bonifacio and Public Affairs Manager Roxanne Lu to meet with Baronda on April 15, where the company outlined existing measures to cushion drivers from rising fuel costs and committed to finalize the commission cut.

In the April 22 letter, Bonifacio thanked Baronda for her “proactive leadership and for voicing the concerns of our transport sector during this challenging period,” adding that the company is committed “to safeguarding the livelihoods of the thousands of Filipino driver-partners who serve as the backbone of our digital economy.”

Drivers to gain PHP 1,600 weekly

Bonifacio said the financial impact of the lowered commission is best measured on a weekly basis.

“The effect of the reduced commission is best understood on a weekly basis. For a typical driver-partner operating 8 hours per day, the increase in earnings is estimated at PHP 1,600 per week on average,” she said.

She added that the rate adjustment will be applied cumulatively to capture all cashbacks and rebates earned by drivers.

“The effective commission rate will be reflected cumulatively to sufficiently account for the cashback and rebates that the driver has earned. The driver-partners have real time access to an earnings statement for their reference,” Bonifacio said.

She also clarified that Grab does not collect a commission from the delivery fees of its delivery partners.

“Grab is currently shouldering the bulk of the cost increase of each delivery booking. In addition, we have implemented spot bonuses for all trips to help riders cope from the rising cost of fuel,” Bonifacio said.

The company added that its existing fuel discounts, Move It vouchers, and loan holidays for drivers will remain in place.

Maxim flags 8% commission rate

Separately, Maxim Rides and Food Delivery met with Baronda on Wednesday, April 29, and informed her that the company operates with one of the lowest commission rates in the market at 8%.

Maxim president Andres Morales Jr. said the company also issues performance-based rebates and is studying additional support measures for drivers.

“They also give rebates to riders based on their weekly performance as it is also exploring targeted support initiatives such as fuel subsidy programs for all our active TNVS drivers. These initiatives are designed to provide immediate, tangible relief by helping offset daily fuel expenses, while also ensuring continued service availability for the riding public,” Morales said.

The commission rate cuts come as transport workers nationwide grapple with elevated pump prices linked to the ongoing US-Iran War, which has tightened global crude supply and pushed local fuel costs higher.

Buhang Flyover reopens

Baronda also witnessed the reopening of the 200-meter Buhang Flyover in Jaro District after rectification works were completed 15 days ahead of the deadline set by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.

The corrective work involved the installation of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) beneath the concrete slab to strengthen the structure.

“We are glad that the rectification works were done ahead of schedule as this would help ease the traffic in the area,” Baronda said.

The lawmaker was invited to the reopening by DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office OIC Johnny Jose Pura.

Baronda said she ensured that the multi-year, multi-phase project secured funding under the General Appropriations Act until completion.

The flyover is a critical link for daily commuters traveling from Jaro, Tagbak Terminal, Pavia, Dumangas Port, and the northern municipalities and provinces of Capiz and Aklan.

It also serves freight and cargo movement, particularly goods originating from northern Iloilo towns, Capiz, and Aklan bound for Iloilo City, the port, and other key economic centers.

Once fully operational, the structure is expected to ease congestion along the Iloilo Circumferential Road, cut travel time, and improve overall road safety.

Restrictions on trucks, motorcycles

The reopening came with stricter access rules barring trucks, motorcycles, and several other vehicle types from using the flyover.

A January 2026 structural assessment by the DPWH found that the flyover had been overstressed beyond its intended design capacity after overloaded vehicles, particularly heavy trucks exceeding load limits, repeatedly passed over it.

The Department of Public Works and Highways-Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) installed a 3.1-meter overhead gantry, or vertical clearance barrier, at both approaches of the flyover to enforce the new restrictions.

The clearance bars dump trucks, transit mixers, wing vans, trailer trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, bicycles, and e-bikes from the structure, and a 40-kilometer-per-hour speed limit is now in force.

The DPWH-6 earlier said the visible cracks and falling debris that prompted the immediate repair were likely caused by heavily loaded container trucks passing through the flyover.

The structure, which opened to motorists in May 2023, has a load capacity of about 31 tonnes.

The DPWH-6, however, said some trucks weighing between 50 and 82 tonnes, including container trucks from Dumangas Port, were reported to have used the flyover.

Under Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No. 2023-260, certain vehicles and pedestrians are prohibited from using flyovers in the city.

The ordinance covers pedestrians, bicycles, and other non-motorized vehicles, electric bikes and scooters, tricycles, and vehicles with three or more axles.

Thousands receive AICS cash aid

Meanwhile, more than 2,800 Ilonggos from vulnerable sectors, including vendors, beauticians, and therapists, received cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

Baronda said she is pushing for the release of cash assistance to a total of 15,000 Ilonggos to help them weather the economic fallout of the US-Iran War.

“We want to help our fellow Ilonggos who are most affected by the crisis as well as those who were not yet included in the earlier payouts. We need to help each other in this trying time,” she said.