A 30-YEAR-OLD widow of a GrabCar driver received a check on Friday amounting to P500,000 worth of life insurance from the Grab Philippines at the Bacolod Business Inn.

The check was turned over by Wayne Jacinto, head of driver services and community management of Grab, and Jocelyn Yoshida, Grab Bacolod manager, to Joanna Eslabon, whose husband, Benjie Eslabon, 37, died due to cardiac arrest on January 1 this year.

Eslabon, a resident of San Enrique, said her family did not expect her husband has a life insurance.

She said her husband was renting the car of his best friend and used it for the ride-hailing app. He was a member of Grab for more than one year.

Eslabon recalled that in January, her husband bought liquor at Valladolid, but he accidentally sideswiped a vehicle that resulted in commotion with the driver.

She said her husband attempted to punch the driver, but he suddenly fell to the ground and died due to cardiac arrest.

Eslabon has three children aged 9, 7, and 2.

“We did not expect that we will receive this big amount of money. It is a big help to our family, especially for my children,” Eslabon said.

She said she will use the money to repair their house and to continue their small business in San Enrique.

“We are very thankful to Grab for giving this life insurance,” she added.

Jacinto said they started the life insurance program in 2016 for the Grab drivers with a good performance.

“We noticed that most of the taxi drivers did not give importance on the insurance and we saw their situations so we decided to put up a life insurance that will take care their families after they died,” he said.

Jacinto noted that Grab drivers should have a good performance to avail the program.

“We do this nationwide for the drivers with good performance, high star ratings and loyal,” Jacinto said.

Last year, Grab also turned over checks amounting to P1.5 million to the families of two Grab taxi drivers who died in Negros Occidental.

Grab Philippines, a franchisee of Transportation Network Company by Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board, is a mobile hailing transportation application or platform.

Yoshida said in Bacolod, they have more than 300 GrabCars and at least 400 GrabTaxis.

She said they are hopeful to accept more GrabCars to serve the Negrenses.

“We aim to help ensure a modern way of getting a safe and comfortable ride on board either on GrabTaxi and GrabCar,” Yoshida added.

Yoshida also announced that starting May 1, Grab drivers in Bacolod will no longer be able to see their passenger’s destination prior to accepting the booking.

Yoshida said this is to reduce selective behavior of drivers.

Grab also urged passengers to update its application profile. (MAP)