Atom Araullo tweets, MIAA listens: MIAA, Grab ink deal to deploy more vehicles at NAIA

It’s amazing what a viral tweet by an influential personality can do.

Days after journalist Atom Araullo’s tweet about the dearth of cabs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) went viral on December 9, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced an initiative with ride-hailing service Grab Philippines that seeks to address the transport shortage at the airport.

As part of the Airport to Anywhere initiative, Grab will deploy 50 vehicles at NAIA beginning Thursday and 200 by next week. According to the MIAA, these vehicles will charge fixed prices depending on drop off locations and will not implement surge charges.

The MIAA has assured that the regular Grab cars and taxis that anyone can book with surge charges will remain available.

In a statement, MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said talks with Grab were initiated as early as September in anticipation of higher demand for transportation service during the Christmas season. Is Mr. Chiong telling us that the hundreds of angry reactions to Araullo’s tweet had nothing to do with the addition of Grab vehicles at NAIA?

The MIAA management is expecting a 13 to 15 percent increase in the passenger volume during the peak season, or from Dec. 15 to early January. It is hoped that the Airport to Anywhere program will help alleviate the shortage in transport options at the airport.

While netizens appreciated being thrown a bone by the airport authorities, they argue that the 200 additional cabs are only a band-aid solution to a deeper problem and more efficient transport options, like buses or a railway line, would move people for a lower cost.