Grab Philippines celebrates a decade of advancing an inclusive digital economy in Western Visayas with the second leg of its Super-Takbo trilogy, staged at Atria Park District in Iloilo City.
The run underscored the superapp’s commitment to shared progress, highlighting how Grab’s online marketplace drives sustainable growth for drivers, riders, merchants, and local economies through every transaction on the app. The Super-Takbo Iloilo leg drew nearly 3,000 runners from Grab’s “supercommunity” of drivers, merchants, and consumers, spanning race categories from 3K to 21K.
Since launching GrabTaxi in Iloilo in 2015, the superapp has steadily expanded with GrabFood in 2020 and GrabCar in 2022, concurrently growing its fleet of driver-, delivery-, and merchant-partners within its ecosystem. The leading superapp has also since extended its geographical reach to include the entirety of Panay, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan.
Today, the Visayas region is home to more than 10,000 Grab driver- and delivery-partners, making it one of the platform’s most active driver hubs outside of Metro Manila. Among them is Jose Diosdidit Borja Esportono. Esportono is one of the first to join the GrabTaxi fleet when it entered the Visayas a decade ago.
From taxi driver to digitalized transport provider, he quickly saw the viability of on-demand ride-hailing: “Maganda kasi ang kita sa Grab. Hindi kami nagkakaroon ng problema sa dami ng bookings. Maganda rin ang suportang naibigay ni Grab sa mga masisipag na drivers, gaya na lang ng incentives,” he said.
Esportono later transitioned being a GrabCar driver-partner, growing his operations from one vehicle to three — with his children now also behind the wheel. “Maliban sa magandang kita, ang gusto ko rin sa pagiging GrabCar driver ay hawak ko ang oras ko. Mas nabibigyan ko ng oras ang pamilya ko.”
Having experienced this transformative impact, Esportono organized and now leads the “Panay Breakers,” a 60-member community of GrabCar drivers and also a Grab Driver UGNAYAN advocate, focused on building solidarity and community-led programs for TNVS drivers across the region.
Merchants remain another pillar of Grab’s ecosystem, with more than 5,000 MSMEs connected to the platform in the Visayas. Iloilo accounts for a significant share, from homegrown food stalls to family-run shops tapping Grab’s consumer base, digital tools, and delivery network to scale sustainably.
A standout in this community is Luna’s Arrozcaldohan, owned by Helen Barcelona. She underscored how Grab was instrumental in helping their family business, which was established in 1967, not just survive the pandemic, but also grow stronger in its aftermath. What was once two branches in 2020 has expanded into nine today. “Sa tulong ni Grab, napalaki namin ang family business kaya mas marami na kami ngayon mula sa pamilya na nagtutulung-tulungan para sa negosyo,” Barcelona said.
The growth also means more jobs for the community. Each branch now supports six to fifteen staff, turning Luna’s Arrozcaldohan from a small family venture into a livelihood generator for dozens of Ilonggos.
Barcelona added that beyond revenue, what matters to them is the multiplier effect: as the business thrives, more families benefit — both their own and those of their employees.
Grab Philippines Vice President for Cities CJ Lacsican shares: “We’re proud to stand alongside the Iloilo government and every Ilonggo in building a stronger digital economy: one that creates livelihoods for thousands, and helps families turn their aspirations into reality. This event reminds us that progress is never a solo act. On Grab, every role matters — from the users who place their trust in us, to the merchants who grow with us, to the drivers and riders who serve every day. Together, we create a flywheel of service and opportunity that lifts communities upward.”
