Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill which seeks to provide protection to delivery riders/drivers, by requiring food and grocery delivery service providers to establish a mandatory reimbursement scheme for cancelled orders.
For months now, since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, most people have been confined to their homes to avoid crowded places such as restaurants and groceries. To sustain the need for food and household items, people have now resorted to delivery services where the delivery riders serve as frontliners as they buy food and groceries and deliver them at the doorsteps of their customers.
Unfortunately, delivery riders have recently been hit unjustified cancellation of orders or even to instances of “no-show” customers, despite of the fact that they have already paid for the ordered items in advance.
“Delivery riders take the risk to give service to customers and earn a small amount.”
“Masakit isipin na sa kabila ng panganib na hinaharap ng mga delivery rider para lamang makapagserbisyo sa mga customer at kumita ng maliit na halaga, sa huli, sila pa ang naloloko. Bukod sa nasasayang ang oras at salapi ng mga riders dahil sa pagkansela ng order, ang mas malala pa, may mga pagkakataon na ni hindi matunton nag address ng nanlokong customer dahil sa fake address. Hindi tuloy sila mapanagot at naiiwang lugi at abunado ang mga delivery riders,” Lapid said.
Senate Bill 1677 requires the service providers to establish a reimbursement scheme in favor of deliver riders/drivers which will cover the entire amount of money advances to purchase the items, in case of cancelation of confirmed orders. Reimbursements of riders must be made within one (1) day from cancellation.
To facilitate collection against cancelling customers, this bill also requires the implementation of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules which will entail the submission and verification of proof of identity and residential address, subject to compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
“Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon lalo’t nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, lahat naman tayo ay gustong kumita. Kaya humahanga tayo sa mga gaya ng service riders na gumagawa ng paraan para kumita sa legal na paraan at malaki pa ang naitutulong nila para hindi na lumabas ng bahay ang ating mga kababayan,” the veteran legislator said.
“To protect them from unjustified cancellation of orders, the identity and address of the customers must be verified.”
“Kaya para masiguro na hindi na sila maloloko pa ng mga biglaang pagkansela ng order, dapat masiguro na ang mga umoorder ay magbibigay ng totoong pangalan at address,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator’s bill also penalizes repeated acts of unjustified cancellation of confirmed orders for the delivery of food and/or grocery items when the same has already been paid by the delivery rider/driver. If a customer cancels for at least three (3) times in a period of one (1) month, he/she, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of arresto mayor or imprisonment of one month and one day to six months. The said customer will also need to pay a fine of an amount not exceeding P100,000.
Failure of the food and grocery delivery service providers to set up the reimbursement scheme is likewise penalized with a fine not exceeding P500,000 and double the amount of money not reimbursed to their delivery riders/drivers.