A new car-hailing application has been launched in Davao which is similar to Grab and Uber and it’s called Hirna.

A portmanteau of “Here Now”, or Tag-lish slang “Here Na”, Hirna is a collaboration between Avis Global and Avis Philippines in partnership with Globe Telecommunactions Inc. and Metro Davao Taxi Operators Association (MDTOA).

Highlighted features of the app include the complete driver’s information, a rating feature, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board hotline, and the application’s own 24/7 hotline. There will also be a dedicated hotline for people who do not have the application nor a general customer service facility.

Hirna promises to do away with what Uber and Grab users usually experience. “We will deliver premium passenger service with no turn-downs, booking fees or price surges,” Chief Executive Officer Francisco Mauricio said.

Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio sees this as a step forward to change in the way people use their mode of transportation in the city in a effort to ease up the prevalent traffic. “The traffic situation in Davao City has become a paramount challenge and the city government is trying to double its efforts to address this problem…During my State of the City Address, I have challenged the taxi operators of Davao City to come up with a local and a unified app as a parallel effort to resolve the city’s traffic crisis and we are here this afternoon to mark the first of an accepted challenge through this HirNa taxi app,” she said to SunStar Davao.

Hirna has been launched last December 19 and is planning for a nationwide expansion in a few months after its first launch in Davao.

Sources: Business World, Sun Star