The Senate Trade Committee chaired by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has just approved a bill seeking to criminalize “hoax ordering” to protect delivery drivers.
The bill seeks to criminalize other actions as well like cancellation of confirmed orders and refusal to receive unpaid orders as well. Additionally, using another person’s information when registering for any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service will be penalized.
“The recent incidents of fake booking and hoax orders are quite alarming. Those acts must be criminalized. Nagtatrabaho ang ating mga riders nang maayos. Yung iba ay inaabot pa ng madaling araw sa kalye para kumita ng pera. Hindi sila dapat linoloko,” said Pimentel in a statement.
Under the bill, food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service apps are prohibited from requiring delivery riders and drivers to advance money for the payment of the orders. It also requires the app providers to “establish a mandatory reimbursement scheme in favor of delivery riders and drivers in case of cancellation of confirmed orders.”
The Know-You-Customer (KYC) rules are also implemented in the bill. These rules require the submission and verification of proof of identity and the residential address of customers. This is subject to compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
“We need a law protecting our delivery riders and drivers. It is very timely and relevant. Even after the pandemic, this measure will be relevant because we have now grown accustomed to online services,” Pimentel said.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
