Senate bill seeks to penalize scammers of delivery riders
A measure seeking to penalize individuals scamming riders involved in food, grocery and pharmacy delivery services has been filed in the Senate.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1234, Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito persons who make “fake bookings” or suddenly cancel confirmed orders, refuse to receive unpaid orders and using another person’s personal information when registering for a food, grocery and pharmacy delivery service should be penalized.
The bill also seeks to prohibit delivery service providers from requiring advance payments on the part of the delivery rider.
Likewise, under the bill, individuals registering for such delivery service will be required to submit their proof of identity and place of residence.
Violators of the proposed law could face up to six months in prison and a fine not exceeding P100,000.
In addition to these penalties, Ejercito said delivery service providers requiring monetary advances from their riders could also suffer the revocation of their licenses and permits.
“Our delivery riders are working with a meager pay to support their families in the midst of the dangers of the COVID virus, and making them pay for items that are not theirs is not justifiable and acceptable,” Ejercito said.
“In this way, delivery riders will be protected not to shell out their hard earned money to pay for the orders in cases where fake bookings or orders are made,” the senator said.
Ejercito hopes his bill becomes a means of safeguarding the country’s delivery riders from the hazards of their daily work.
"We must not fail to remember also the contributions of one of our unsung heroes in this pandemic, our delivery riders,” he said.
"With the growing demand and impact of online deliveries in our daily lives and our economy, it is but proper for the government to prioritize not only for the economic sustainability of the industry, but most especially the necessary protection that should be accorded to our delivery riders," Ejercito stressed.