Grab, gov’t launch Covid-19 test site for drivers, couriers

SWAB TESTING. The Quezon City government conducts free swab testing held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Thursday (July 30, 2020). Employees of government agencies, local government units, and Grab drivers, among others, availed of the free swab test. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Ride-sharing and delivery service provider Grab Philippines (Grab) has partnered with the government to launch a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing site exclusive for its drivers and delivery partners.

In a statement on Thursday, Grab said it launched a Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing site in partnership with the National Task Force (NTF) for Covid-19 and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Located at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, it said the testing site will provide free RT-PCR tests for Grab drivers and couriers beginning Thursday (July 30).

It added that the testing site will be active for two months and is part of the company’s GrabProtect program.

“This two-month initiative is additive to the recently rolled-out GrabProtect program – which further raises the bar of safety and hygiene across Grab’s suite of essential services,” Grab said.

Brian Cu, Grab president, said the program is part of the company’s commitment to place safety “at the core of everything we do at Grab.”

“We believe that through our partnership with the National Taskforce on COVID, the BCDA, and our driver- and delivery-partners, we continue to ensure our communities’ safety as we navigate our paths to the new normal,” Cu said.

Earlier, the GrabProtect program was launched in several Southeast Asian countries as part of the international ride-sharing company’s health and safety measures against Covid-19.

In the Philippines, Grab drivers and delivery partners are required to follow six guidelines as part of the program such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, completion of a “personal health declaration”, regular personal and vehicle sanitation, among others.