Pinuno Party-list Rep. Howard Guintu has filed a bill that seeks to protect delivery riders from bogus orders by prohibiting them from making advanced payments for these orders.
“Delivery riders and drivers lose money when they receive fake or hoax orders or when customers cancel their orders even though the items ordered have already been paid by the delivery riders or drivers,” Guintu said in filing House Bill (HB) No. 3784.
Under the measure, service providers cannot require delivery riders or drivers to advance any monetary amount for the fulfillment of orders, and in case of cancellation of confirmed orders, the service provider shall pay the delivery riders or drivers for the service fee due them.
Guinto filed the bill after getting wind of numerous complaints from delivery riders and drivers who have fallen victim to fraud and hoaxes and stressed that adequate protection must be given to them.
“These fraudulent acts result in a waste of time, effort, and money on the part of the delivery riders or drivers. Even worse, customers making fake or hoax orders use fake names, contact numbers and/or addresses making it difficult for them to be traced and held accountable for collection,” he added.
The full title of HB No.3784 is "An Act providing measures to protect individuals engaged in food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery services."
The Pinuno lawmaker said his proposed measure aims to ascertain whether the rights of the delivery riders or drivers are respected and whether the obligations imposed to food, grocery and pharmacy delivery service providers are fulfilled.
The bill makes it the duty of the service provider to pursue claims for collection from its canceling customers, and responsible for and in charge of the registration and verification of the identity of the customer.
Furthermore, service providers shall be mandated to require their customers to submit a valid proof of identity and residential address upon registration. Procedures for verification of identity shall likewise be implemented by the service providers.
“For better protection of the delivery riders or drivers, this measure includes prohibition against cancellation of confirmed orders, placing of hoax orders, refusal to receive the unpaid orders, and using another person’s personal information,” Guintu added.
The bill punishes any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service provider found violating the prohibition on requiring monetary advances from delivery riders or drivers with imprisonment of up to six months (arresto mayor) and/or a fine not exceeding ₱100,000, along with the revocation of their licenses and permits.
Meanwhile, customers found to be using another person’s personal information, canceling confirmed orders, placing hoax orders, or refusing to pay confirmed orders shall also be imprisoned for up to six months and/or fined up to ₱100,000.