Grab, MOVE IT, and ARK Partner for Rider Food Security

Grab Philippines and MOVE IT have partnered with social impact innovator ARK Solves to roll out a community-driven food security initiative designed to help gig worker families cultivate sustainable and self-reliant food sources.

At the heart of the collaboration is Feed Back, ARK’s flagship community exchange program. The initiative empowers families to grow fresh produce at home and share surplus harvests within their neighborhoods—strengthening food access at the grassroots level.

Addressing a Fragile Food Landscape

The partnership comes amid ongoing food security concerns nationwide. While government data showed food inflation easing to 0.7 percent in January 2026—down from 1.2 percent in December 2025 and 4.0 percent a year earlier—the Department of Agriculture has cautioned that these gains remain vulnerable to potential supply disruptions.

“Grab remains committed to helping our driver- and delivery-partners and their families stay resilient in the face of shifting macroeconomic realities,” said Ronald Roda, Managing Director of Grab Philippines. “Beyond sustaining livelihood opportunities on our platform, we also provide long-term support programs. Through our partnership with ARK Solves, we aim to help more gig worker families build sustainable lives and stronger food security for the future.”

Pilot Communities in Rizal

The program was formally launched with the support of local government units in Montalban, San Mateo, and Antipolo, where it will be piloted among Grab and MOVE IT’s rider communities.

To date, nearly 700 rider-partners and community leaders have signed up. Participants are receiving starter seeds and hands-on training on how to grow food and compost effectively—even within limited urban spaces.

“Community has always been at the heart of MOVE IT,” said Wayne Jacinto, General Manager of MOVE IT. “Our riders look out for one another on and off the road. Our role is to harness that solidarity and help them co-create sustainable programs that address their everyday needs.”

Growing Food, Growing Communities

Over the course of the 16-week program, riders will expand access to fresh produce within their households while organizing weekly harvest exchanges in their neighborhoods. Surplus crops will be shared among families, fostering both food resilience and stronger community ties.

“This partnership is a major milestone as we demonstrate how Feed Back’s impact can thrive wherever it is needed most—including urban communities,” said Ayesha Vera-Yu, CEO and Co-Founder of ARK.

By combining behavioral science principles with a market-based approach, Feed Back helps families establish and maintain productive home gardens that enhance localized food systems. The program has already expanded to 120 communities nationwide, benefiting more than 36,000 fishing and farming households.

Scaling for Greater Impact

Following the pilot phase, Grab, MOVE IT, and ARK Solves plan to expand the initiative to more driver- and rider-dense communities, applying lessons learned to refine and strengthen the model as it scales.

Together, the partnership demonstrates how digital platforms, social innovation, and community leadership can converge to build more resilient futures—one harvest at a time.