Drivers’ tactics in ridesharing economy in the Philippines

Abstract

Increasing mobility needs, coupled with the lack of adequate public transportation has led to the popularity of ridesharing services in the Philippines, which in 2015 became the first country to implement a regulatory framework for ridesharing through transportation network company (TNC) apps. This study aims to explore the participation of drivers in the ridesharing economy in Metro Manila. Employing thematic analysis, the driver tactics are viewed as falling under one of six categories: surge chasing, request skipping, dual driving, colorum, operator tactics and focusing. While many of the themes confirm the findings of earlier studies, some ridesharing tactics found in the Philippine context provide nuances that may offer insights on the drivers’ use of ridesharing platforms. Specifically, these strategies suggest that users find new ways to use the technology to support their motivations, resulting in a notion deviant to the original purpose of ridesharing.