GRABFOOD, the leading food delivery platform of Grab (MYTAXI.PH) was officially launched in the City of Smiles Bacolod on October 22, 2019, a time when Bacolod’s Ruby MassKara festival celebration is on its peak.
This is part of GrabFood’s growth and expansion as Bacolod, a highly urbanized city, is the 35th city in the Philippines to enjoy a variety of services of Grab using the mobile-driven platform.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, represented by City Administrator and former Tourism Attaché to the Americas and Japan lawyer John Orola, Jr., and former Bago City councilor Jack Matti who represented Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer graced the momentous occasion.
They wholeheartedly hailed Grab’s new addition - the GrabFood service that will surely provide comfort and convenience to the countless food lovers in the city and its neighboring towns and cities encompassing the Metro Bacolod.
Grab has helped stirred the local economy with its various services anchored on creating a new landscape for Bacolod City, Mayor Leonardia said as echoed by lawyer Orola.
Culinary is Bacolod’s main attraction. Grab is the main platform that can help promote Bacolod as a Mice (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination.
“Thank you Grab for bringing this service to the city. To our people, let’s grab this opportunity,” Orola said.
Mr. Matti congratulated the geniuses behind Grab. This is a new innovation which is fitting to cater to gastronomic destination like Bacolod and the province. This also helps decongest traffic flow in the city.
Jennylind Cordero of the Provincial Tourism Office said, “this is embracing the Negrense cuisine where everyone can have a wide variety of home-grown favorites.”
Furthermore, this new service will also provide employment opportunities for motorcycle riders and enthusiasts wherein they can enjoy their hobby and at the same time earning a living for themselves and for their family.
This new service will also train the motorcycle riders to become well-versed and well-oriented on the different places in Bacolod and the myriad of food choices and classes and denominations of their future patrons.
Grab is bringing its own brand of fun to the world renowned Masskara Festival celebration already on its 40th or Ruby year.
Grab has introduced GrabFood in Bacolod in a bid to banner Bacolod’s widely known culinary mastery in partnership with the iconic homegrown restaurants and local entrepreneurs that will enable Bacolodnons and Negrenses, in general, to access on their favorite food at the confines of their offices and homes.
“As the leading super app in the Philippines, our mission is to elevate the lives of Filipinos by solving daily limitations and addressing their most basic needs. In 2015, we came to Bacolod to help address transportation issues and have since become an indispensable part of Negrenses’ daily commute. We now take on the challenge of improving access to great food and bringing more livelihood opportunities for the people of Bacolod through GrabFood,” said GrabFood Philippines head, EJ Dela Vega.
He added that, Bacolod’s great culinary scene has developed locals to be discerning eaters. As such, GrabFood has partnered with a variety of merchants to cater to a diverse range of pallets.
Negrenses can order the famous and iconic food from Aida’s, Bar 21, Inaka, L Kaisei, L Sea, El Ideal, Virgie’s, Rolis, Claras, Merzci Pasalubong, Bong Bongs, Felicia’s, King’s Ice, Apollo, Delicioso, Bascon, Quan, Nena’s Rose and Cozy Nook.
Homegrown brands such as Masskara Chicken Inasal, North Fitness Cantina, 2 Story Kitchen, Recado’s Restaurant, East Bite Asian Chicken, Firehook, Crib, Cakefully Yours Cafe, Rianne’s Churreria, Fresh Start, Daily Skillet, Jaimie’s Cafe, Italia, Capriccioso Deli Ristorante, Mirens, Ceres Mart Lacson, Spoonmugnet, Homesite Shawarma, Quinos, Clems, Eron’s and Quino’s Cafe, and C’s are also working with GrabFood to bring the flavours of Bacolod closer to the consumers.
Major quick service restaurants such as McDonald’s, Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Burger King, Red Ribbon and Uncle John’s Chicken by Ministop are also available 24/7 on GrabFood in Bacolod.
As GrabFood continues to grow, it aims to offer the best possible service in the most rewarding manner for all the Negrenses --- for consumers who demand for better selection of food and accessibility, for our delivery partners who are looking for sustainable livelihood opportunities, for our merchant-partners who trust Grab to boost their businesses, and for the community to enable them to reap the advantages of the connected digital economy.
“Food delivery is a natural extension of Grab’s transport services. Bringing this service is part of our commitment to transforming Bacolod into a smarter city powered by Grab,” said Joann Yoshida, Grab Philippines’ operations lead for Western Visayas.
According to market research by Kantar in the second quarter (April - June) 2019, GrabFood is the number 1 most often used food delivery platform in the Philippines with 78 percent of users voting for GrabFood over other app-based food delivery brands. At present, GrabFood has the widest selection of restaurant partners in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, on October 22 to 27, Grab will be deploying GrabWheels, eco-friendly e-scooters that serve as solution for short distance commute, to help Grab users get around the city much faster. They may book for the complimentary twenty minutes GrabWheels ride for just 20 GrabRewards points. Users simply have to click on the GrabWheels offer in the GrabRewards screen and leave a government-issued ID at the Grab booth located at Ayala Malls Capitol Central Corte Area before riding. They will undergo a quick how-to and safety briefing before they may be able to roam around the city using GrabWheels.
A special Grab Masskara Booth will also be deployed at 21st Lacson Street in Bacolod City (beside Bar 21) to delight existing and new Grab users with free festival giveaways such as bandanas, caps, and goggles. To get the giveaways, users simply have to download the Grab app, play the GrabFood game, and post online using the hashtag #GrabFoodLovesBacolod #GrabMasskara
For festival goers looking for local food, Grab will be deploying GrabFood On-The-Go from October 25 to 26. GrabFood riders will be going around the city to sell popular food from our featured merchants on the festival grounds. They can also look for Grab Masskara Ambassadors giving out free drinking water and snacks.
“Grab is and has always been a proud partner of the local government of Bacolod through its support for the city’s major festivals. We will always look for ways to offer a fun and memorable Grab Masskara experience through our services,” Yoshida said.