Solon seeks penalties for cancellation of food delivery orders

In filing House Bill 6958, AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the proposal aims to provide protection to individuals engaged in the food and grocery delivery services, such as Grab Food, LalaFood, and Foodpanda. A copy of the bill was released to the media on Monday. (File Photo: GrabFood PH/Facebook)

MANILA – A party-list lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to penalize the cancellation of food and grocery delivery orders that have already been paid in advance by delivery riders.

In filing House Bill 6958, AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the proposal aims to provide protection to individuals engaged in the food and grocery delivery services, such as Grab Food, LalaFood, and Foodpanda. A copy of the bill was released to the media on Monday.

The bill stated that violators will receive a penalty of prision mayor or at least 6 years of jail time, as well as a fine of PHP100,000 pesos.

Violators shall likewise be required to reimburse the food and delivery service providers for the value of the food and grocery items advanced by the delivery riders and be made to pay an amount of money double the fee pertinent to the canceled transaction.

It also covers instances wherein customers order food and grocery items for the purpose of prank, or those who have no “genuine intention” of availing of the service which causes damages and undue duress to the delivery riders and service providers.

“Sa panahon ngayon, napakahalaga ng mga riders na nais nating proteksyonan. Sila ay masasabing mga bagong bayani sapagkat sila ay nakikipag sapalaran upang matulungan tayo na manatili sa tahanan at maiwasan ang Covid virus (Riders are very vital at this extraordinary time and we need to protect them. We could call them the new heroes as they take the risk to help us stay in our homes and avoid the coronavirus),” Garbin said.

Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any customer to shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate the delivery riders across any platform.

Such act would result in at least six months of imprisonment or prision correccional.

The bill mandates food and delivery service providers to require its customers to submit a valid proof of identity and residential address or proof of billing for registration. Validation shall be done through video call verification.