Billed as Southeast Asia’s largest EV financing coalition for ride-hailing, the program addresses two key pressures on drivers: rising fuel costs and the need to replace aging vehicles.

Through partnerships with BDO and BPI, drivers gain access to preferential “green” auto loans, simplified applications, and flexible repayment options. Automotive partners—including Toyota, BYD, GAC, Dongfeng, and others—are offering exclusive discounts on EV and hybrid models.

Eco-Drive also introduces a data-driven approach to financing, allowing banks to consider driver earnings, tenure, and ratings—helping bridge long-standing credit access gaps in the gig economy.

To better match driver cash flow, Grab enables daily loan repayments via the Grab Driver Wallet, offering an alternative to traditional monthly amortization.

By integrating financing, vehicle access, and repayment into one platform, Eco-Drive creates a scalable pathway for fleet electrification in the Philippines.

Advocacy

Eco-Drive Aligns Private Sector with PH EV Push Under EVIDA

Eco-Drive supports the Philippines’ transport electrification goals under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), advancing efforts to reduce fuel dependence and transport emissions.

By targeting TNVS drivers, the initiative taps a high-impact segment for EV adoption while increasing public exposure to electric mobility through everyday rides.

The coalition model—linking financing, vehicle supply, and platform data—addresses key adoption barriers and enables scale. Its use of alternative data for credit assessment also expands financial inclusion for drivers traditionally underserved by banks.

Grab said it will continue working with agencies such as the LTFRB, DOTr, and DOE to align the program with national transport modernization efforts.

Grab Philippines and MOVE IT, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), have officially launched the Asenso Center, the first livelihood hub of its kind in the country and Grab’s Southeast Asia network.

The one-hectare facility is designed to professionalize the onboarding of platform workers and entrepreneurs, accelerate AI-driven income opportunities, and streamline access to social protection programs such as SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. It also provides microinsurance and welfare coverage through Chubb and AXA, offering a holistic support ecosystem for digital workers.

Grab Philippines Country Managing Director Ronald Roda said the Asenso Center transforms the company’s on-ground insights into tangible empowerment.

“Grab is one of the Philippines’ most mature platform work ecosystems, giving us a ground level understanding of what Filipino platform workers and micro-entrepreneurs truly need to thrive,” Roda said. “The Asenso Center opens dignified, digitally powered livelihoods, equips our partners with practical AI copilots, and helps families convert opportunity into income at scale.”

Meanwhile, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda underscored the vital role of the gig economy in improving the lives of Filipino families, calling Grab and MOVE IT partners the “frontline of the digital economy.”

“In every trip you take, there’s a child who gets to eat, tuition that gets paid, and medical bills that are settled, that’s what real change looks like,” Aguda remarked. “You are the frontline of the digital economy.”

Aguda also emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in achieving the DICT’s vision of creating millions of digital livelihoods across the country.

Apart from this, Secretary Aguda made a notable suggestion by encouraging Grab Philippines to consider going public through an initial public offering (IPO), emphasizing that such a move would open more avenues for Filipinos to invest and co-own a company that directly empowers people through job creation and inclusive participation in the gig economy.

“An IPO for Grab Philippines would allow the public to take part in its success story,” Aguda said. “It’s a chance for ordinary Filipinos to invest in a company that not only drives innovation but also transforms lives by creating sustainable digital livelihoods.”

A Flagship for Professionalized AI Driven Livelihoods

The Asenso Center supports Grab’s commitment to create 500,000 livelihood opportunities under its partnership with the national government. The company has already reached 73 percent of its five-year goal and is on track to exceed the target ahead of schedule.

Merchant participation is also on the rise, with the number of Community Merchants increasing by 30 percent year on year as more local MSMEs formalize their businesses online.

The facility integrates AI enablement into partner development through mobile-first tools such as the Merchant AI Assistant and AI Driver Companion, both designed to help partners work more efficiently and responsibly.

“Used responsibly, AI becomes a force multiplier — an exponent on every hour of work online,” Roda explained. “Our goal is to make enterprise-grade tools accessible through a smartphone, raise standards of safety and service, and broaden participation in the growing AI economy.”

Among those using the Merchant AI Assistant is Marvin Catimbang, Chief Operating Officer of Coffee Blanc and a GrabFood 5-Star Eats Merchant Partner, who said the tool automates daily tasks and helps analyze consumer insights critical to business growth.

Viable Earnings and Accessible Protection

Grab said platform productivity is structured so that active partners working at least eight hours a day can achieve family-sustaining income levels with many surpassing this threshold depending on demand, service type, and time of day.

MOVE IT rider partner and community leader Nica “Khang” Brieta shared how her earnings have supported her education and family.

“Dahil po sa kita ko sa MOVE IT, napag-aral ko po ang aking sarili pati ang aking kapatid. Nasisiguro ko rin na natutustusan ko ang medikal na pangangailangan ng aking anak. Sa MOVE IT, empowered kaming mga kababaihan na makipagsabayan sa kalsada para kumita nang patas para sa aming mga pamilya.”

For his part, MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto emphasized that professionalization and protection must go hand in hand.

“From safety training and service standards to modular benefits and on-trip coverage, the Asenso Center helps driver partners build sustainable, future proof livelihoods,” he said.

The Asenso Center also integrates social protection enrollment directly into its onboarding process, enabling partners to register for SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth while opting for private insurance coverage. For top performing partners, Grab and MOVE IT subsidize Pag-IBIG contributions and provide free life insurance in addition to standard on-trip protection.

Grab’s responsible AI framework follows four guiding principles: improve safety, protect privacy, keep people in control, and make learning simple — reinforcing its commitment to ethical innovation.

“AI should reward effort, not replace it,” Roda concluded. “Our role is to lower the barrier to entry into the AI economy, protect user trust, and ensure that Filipino workers and MSMEs capture the full benefit of digital transformation.”

Payoneer and GCash conducted a survey on freelancing trends and behaviors in the Philippines. With 5,560 GCash users across the country as respondents. Sharing the key findings, the report revealed that freelancers who work with local and overseas clients earn 57% more per hour than those who work with just local clients. 

Why the gig economy in the Philippines flourishes

In Payoneer’s Global Gig Economy Index 2019, the Philippines landed in sixth place as the fastest-growing market in the world, with a 35% growth in freelance earnings. At the onset of the pandemic, more Filipinos turned to freelancing as a way to generate income despite mobility restrictions. This accelerated the gig economy trend in the country and increased the ranks of Filipino freelancers in 2020-21.

Despite the unpredictability of a steady income stream and job stability, Filipino freelancers continue to take advantage of the benefits of freelancing such as job flexibility, workload control,  and greater earning potential from multiple income streams. Given the many benefits of freelancing, many Filipinos now prefer this flexible livelihood option that suits their lifestyles better than traditional employment.

With the government promoting entrepreneurship and digital innovation, freelancers in the Philippines are driven to find work opportunities through online marketplaces and apps. Digital platforms have made it easier for Filipino freelancers to find clients who need services such as photography, blogging/vlogging, graphic design, writing, videography, as well as architecture and engineering.

Overseas freelance opportunities abound

While most freelancers still source their jobs in the Philippines, the survey suggests that more and more Filipino freelancers are in demand across countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.  GCash and Payoneer’s market report mentioned that, according to Creative Economy Council of the Philippines President Paolo Mercado, up to 1.5 million Filipinos are registered on international online platforms for freelancing services.

“As Filipinos are renowned for their creativity, work ethic, and customer service-orientation, it is not surprising that more and more international businesses are willing to pay for Filipino talent. This should motivate more freelancers in the Philippines to take their freelancing journey to the global stage and benefit from higher earning potential,” said Miguel Warren, Vice President of Payoneer for South East Asia. 

Importance of timely and secure payment

One thing that holds back Filipino freelancers from pursuing overseas clients is the challenge of securing timely payments from foreign clients. Delayed or denied payments can negatively affect freelancers’ finances. To ensure timely and secure payments, freelancers need a reliable payment platform that connects them to clients from anywhere in the world.  With a payment platform, freelancers can conveniently request payment from both local and international clients.

According to the survey, freelancers consider security and accessibility when selecting payment platforms. They also choose payment platforms based on other factors like transaction fees, the convenience of transferring to bank accounts, fast crediting, exchange rates, and live technical support.

Supporting Filipino freelancers in going global

Recognizing freelancers’ need for secure and timely payments, Payoneer simplifies payment for cross-border and manages the complexities of moving money through its easy-to-navigate, secure, and affordable payment platform.  

As many freelancers mainly use GCash to receive payments from local clients and Payoneer for receiving overseas payments with higher rates, Payoneer has partnered with GCash to provide freelancers a more seamless and convenient payment experience.  

By signing up and linking a Payoneer account via GCash, users can receive foreign currency overseas with Payoneer and withdraw the funds locally in PHP instantly for free via the GCash app. This enables freelancers to receive payments from global clients in foreign currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and more.

“With the feature that allows users to link their Payoneer and GCash accounts, we hope to encourage more freelancers to provide their services to international clients. Together with GCash, we hope to do something more in the future to help our Filipino freelancers succeed in the global economy, ” added Warren.  

Learn more about the gig economy in the Philippines by downloading The Philippines Freelance Market 2022 Report at this link: https://paynr.co/PH-freelance-report-2022