Bad traffic in the city is inescapable, and our deplorable public transportation system has not helped matters either.

The daily commute to and from work is not just a big headache for Metro Manila residents—it’s also a hazard to their safety and belongings whenever snatchers or holdup men strike.

Riding a taxicab also has its own scary stories (our Facebook feed alone is proof), with modus operandi like weird odors that attempt to knock you out or armed men in cahoots with the cab driver who hijack your ride and terrorize you until they divest everything you have.

Additional P70

Thankfully, apps like Uber, GrabTaxi, and Easy Taxi are here to fill a much-needed gap in the inefficiencies of the public transportation system. While these apps work differently, they provide an alternative for a safe and convenient way to get around the metro.

GrabTaxi and Easy Taxi operate the same way. The two companies match you with their accredited cabbies, depending on which driver
accepts your request for a cab.

Booking a cab using either app requires an additional fee of P70 on top of the fare. You can also add a tip to the driver as incentive, which you can do when it’s rush hour or raining really hard or if you live far away and want to get home quickly without enduring a taxi queue.

No cash payments

Uber, on the other hand, is a private car service that lets you book a car and driver to get to your destination. Your trip is metered as well, but it’s based on Uber’s current rate.

Since Uber is not an actual taxi service, there are no meters in the vehicles; all transactions are automatically deducted from your credit card since no cash payments are accepted.

You’ll probably end up having a favorite app, but it wouldn’t hurt to have all three installed just so you have all bases covered.