Ride-hailing app inDrive launches in Cebu, offers zero commission rates for drivers

CEBU, Philippines – International ride-hailing app inDrive has officially launched its operations in the province of Cebu and some drivers here are looking forward to its unique offering: zero commission rates for the first six months.

The company, which initially faced multiple setbacks after its suspension in January, made its comeback to the Philippine transportation industry in June. It is now on the road to reaching more than 13,000 partner-riders in Metro Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, and other provinces in the country.

“We started our recruitment [in Cebu] last November 4 and I’m proud to share that even with the very short span of time, we were able to recruit 500 drivers already,” Sofia Guinto, head of inDrive’s Business Development, said during the launch on Wednesday, December 4.

For its first six months of operations in the province, inDrive is giving Cebuano drivers 0% on commission rates. After the period, the company will only implement a 10% service charge in all transactions.

In March, transportation groups like Laban TNVS claimed that transport network companies (TNCs) take around 21% in commissions from drivers—making inDrive’s commission rates one of the lowest in the country’s ride-hailing market.

From the driver’s view

Nick Saluntao, 32, hopes for a ride-hailing industry that cares about drivers just as much as passengers. It has always been his dream to ferry passengers and get paid for it. 

However, for more than a year, he has had a very rough time working as a partner-driver for one of the country’s largest ride-hailing companies. 

“When it comes to passengers, just because they book us, they already act like they own us,” the driver told Rappler.

Saluntao explained that some passengers would force drivers like himself to wait for them in areas that would put their vehicles in the way of moving traffic or in areas that could put other drivers at risk.  

He also does not have the freedom to choose his passengers or check before booking if they are reliable customers. Saluntao shared that the ride-hailing company he operates under only gives him a designated passenger and penalizes him when he makes consecutive cancellations on rides. 

Which is why when he heard that inDrive allows drivers to check the profiles of their passengers before accepting a booking, Saluntao said that he was looking forward to trying out the app for himself.

Demanding better from the industry

According to the Quarterly Regional Economic Situationer (QRES) prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office in Central Visayas (NEDA 7), Cebu contributed one million out of 1.4 million tourist visits in Central Visayas from January to March 2024.

The same report noted that most skilled workers in the Information Communication Technology–Business Process Management (ICT-BPM) market in Central Visayas migrated to Metro Cebu for better opportunities.

“With the booming tourism and emerging businesses [in Cebu], this growth comes with such an increasing demand which is a demand for a reliable, safe and affordable transportation option for our Cebuanos,” Guinto said in a press conference.

Laban TNVS president Jun de Leon shared in the same presser that for the longest time, drivers in the country have had to deal with restrictive practices applied by a certain company that “has a monopoly on transport network vehicle services.

“They are being prohibited from joining new TNCs, not just inDrive, but other TNCs as well and that makes me sad because the TNVS community and drivers should be free to join which TNC they want to operate under,” De Leon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

According to the transport group leader, some drivers are banned or have their accounts deactivated once administrators catch drivers looking towards other ride-hailing apps.

De Leon lauded inDrive’s efforts to support fellow drivers by ensuring that drivers get more access to their earnings on rides. 

Freedom of choice

inDrive Regional Driver Acquisition and Activation Team lead Mohamed Khalil said that their company’s strength comes from being able to provide freedom of choice.

He said that since drivers could choose which passengers to pick up, they can take bookings that could keep them away from traffic and maximize on earnings. 

Khalil added that since launching, many drivers have shared their high incomes on social media, attracting more users to join the app.

“We were able to gain a lot of traction already despite minimal [marketing] and I believe that that is a manifestation and testament that the product itself is wonderful,” John Louie Balagot, inDrive government relations manager, told reporters.

Moving forward, inDrive is expected to launch a Cebu Drivers Center in the first quarter of 2025 for partner drivers to connect with administrators and get access to exclusive driver-safety training programs.

By the end of the second quarter of 2025, the company is hoping to onboard 5,000 drivers in Cebu province.

As of this writing, inDrive is offering passengers access to four-wheeler rides and the option to book rides from a list of available drivers, their respective rating, car model, and history on the road. – Rappler.com