House bill penalizing cancellation of food, grocery deliveries filed

A measure seeking to penalize individuals who will cancel their orders through food and grocery delivery service providers has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. filed House Bill 6958, or the proposed "Food and Grocery Delivery Services Protection Act," which seeks to provide protection to individuals engaged in food and grocery delivery services.

"Nais ng panukalang ito na protektahan ang mga rider ng food at delivery services companies katulad ng Grab Food, Lalafood, at Food Panda mula sa mga prankster at mga tao na basta basta na lamang nagka-cancel ng kanilang order na ang resulta ay ang pagkasayang sa oras at pagkawala ng puhunan ng mga riders," Garbin said.

"Sa panahon ngayon, napakahalaga ng mga riders na nais nating proteksyonan. Sila ay masasabing mga bagong bayani sapagkat sila ay nakikipagsapalaran upang matulungan tayo na manatili sa tahanan at maiwasan ang COVID virus," he added.

Under the measure, it is unlawful for a customer to cancel confirmed orders for the delivery of food and/or grocery items when they are already paid by the rider or are on the way to their delivery addresses.

This also applies to customers who make "prank" orders for food and/or grocery items for delivery, or those who have no real intention to avail of these services causing damage to riders and the delivery service providers.

An exemption to this provision is when the delivery of the ordered food or grocery item is delayed for at least one hour from the expected time of arrival of the rider, except when the customer has been previously notified of the delay.

At the same time, the measure makes it unlawful for any customer to "shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate" delivery riders on any platform.

Individuals who cancel their orders under the circumstances stated in the measure may be penalized with prision mayor or six to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P100,000.

They will also have to reimburse the delivery service provider the amount paid by the driver in advance and likewise pay the provider the amount of money double the payment for the cancelled order.

Meanwhile, those who shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate delivery riders may suffer a jail sentence of six months to six years ---the penalty of prision correccional.

For additional protection to the rider, the measure likewise mandates food and grocery delivery service providers to reimburse their riders for all the amounts resulting in the cancelled orders within 24 hours from cancellation through bank deposit or other means of fund transfer.

Violation of this provision will result in a penalty of P5,000 on the delivery service provider.

Customers are also required to provide proof of identity and residential address or proof of billing upon signing up for a food delivery service through apps, websites and other similar platforms, verified through video call.

Delivery services providers who fail to mandate its customers to provide proof of identification will be made to pay a fine of P1 million per violation.

"Nais ng panukala na ito na maging hadlang sa pang-aabuso sa mga rider natin na nagbubuwis ng kanilang sarili upang tayo ay maaaring manatili sa ating mga bahay nang hindi makakuha ng sakit na COVID," Garbin said. —AOL, GMA News