Lawmaker files bill which seeks to prohibit cancellation of confirmed orders, items that are already in possession of the delivery rider and/or already in-transit to the customer.
Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr., Ako Bicol Party-list filed House Bill no. 6958 or Food and Grocery Delivery Services Protection Act, the bill covers “ instances wherein customers order food and/or grocery items for the purpose of pranking or those who has no genuine intention of availing of the services which causes damage and undue duress to the delivery riders and their corresponding service providers.”
The bill also prohibits discrimination and/or humiliation of the delivery riders. “In this time of COVID-19 crisis, where staying at home and avoiding crowded places have become the new normal, the food and grocery delivery services have become an indispensable and booming industry,” Garbin said in a text message, “In order to protect the interest of the service providers who are risking life and limb to keep us safe within our abodes, this bill seeks to provide safeguards to the riders and penalize those who will unreasonably, unceremoniously, and unconsciously cancel their orders,” he added.
If this will be approved into law, violators can face up to 6 years and 1 days of imprisonment. The bill also says that the violator shall reimburse the food or delivery service and providers and be made to pay the food, grocery, and delivery service amount double of its charge for the cancellation of order. Meanwhile, for those proven to demean, embarrass, and humiliate delivery riders can face 6 months and 1 day to a maximum of 6 years of imprisonment.
If any violation was committed by or with the use of Information Communications Technologies (ICT) the penalty should be one degree higher as it is covered by the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
To protect delivery riders, additional information would be required upon registration; prior to the mobile and web application, customers may need to submit proof of identity such as valid ID’s, proof of billing indication the customer’s complete information.
The bill also states; “It shall likewise endeavor to verify the identity of the customer through video call verification. Violation of this role shall render the food and grocery services provider liable for a fine of [P1,000,000] per violation,”
However, several exemptions from the prohibited cancellation of orders. This includes;
– when the customer uses credit card services as mode of reimbursement and payment and any such reimbursement and payment will still be credited to the food and grocery delivery service provider notwithstanding the cancellation;
– The customer remits to the food and delivery service provider any such reimbursement and payment as a pre-condition for the cancellation order; and
– The delivery of ordered food and grocery items will be or was delayed for at least one hour from the expected time of arrival given by the delivery rider upon confirmation of order except when previously notified by the rider or the service provider and the delay is through no fault of their own.