Grab Philippines and MOVE IT, in Partnership with DICT, Launch First-of-its-Kind Asenso Center in Marikina City

Grab Philippines and MOVE IT, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), have officially inaugurated the Asenso Center in Marikina City — the first livelihood hub of its kind in Grab’s Southeast Asia network. The one-hectare facility aims to professionalize the onboarding of platform workers and entrepreneurs, accelerate AI-enabled income opportunities for Filipinos, and simplify access to social protection programs through guided registration with SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth, complemented by micro-insurance and welfare coverage from Chubb and AXA.

Grab Philippines Country Managing Director Ronald Roda emphasized that the Asenso Center represents Grab’s deep understanding of the platform economy and the real needs of Filipino workers. “Grab is one of the Philippines’ most mature platform-work ecosystems, and that gives us a precise, ground-level understanding of what Filipino platform workers and micro-entrepreneurs truly need to thrive,” Roda said. “The Asenso Center turns that insight into action. It opens dignified, digitally powered livelihoods, equips our partners with practical AI co-pilots, and helps families convert opportunity into income at scale.”

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda lauded the initiative, recognizing Grab and MOVE IT partners as the “frontline of the digital economy.” He highlighted how gig workers play a vital role in improving the quality of life for countless Filipinos, saying, “In every trip you take, there’s a child who gets to eat, tuition that gets paid, and medical bills that are settled. That’s the future — this is what real change looks like.” Secretary Aguda also underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving DICT’s goal of creating millions of digital livelihoods across the country.

The Asenso Center is a flagship initiative under Grab’s pledge to generate 500,000 new livelihood opportunities in support of the Philippine government’s digitalization and economic goals. To date, Grab has already achieved 73% of that target ahead of schedule. The center integrates AI enablement tools like the Merchant AI Assistant and AI Driver Companion — designed to boost productivity through automated promotions, content generation, and optimized routes — while ensuring responsible, human-centered AI use. These tools, combined with on-site training and social protection programs, enable partners to earn sustainably while accessing vital government and private welfare benefits.

By embedding AI innovation with strong social safeguards, the Asenso Center sets a new benchmark for professionalized digital livelihoods in the Philippines. It provides platform partners with access to education, protection, and technology — ensuring they can thrive in an evolving digital economy. “AI should reward effort, not replace it,” Roda concluded. “Our responsibility is to lower the barrier to entry for the AI economy, protect user trust, and ensure Filipino workers and MSMEs capture the upside.”