Food, Grocery and Pharmacy Delivery Services Protection Act of 2025

Senate ottie of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 AUG 27 P2:18 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1283 Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT PROVIDING MEASURES TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN FOOD, GROCERY AND PHARMACY DELIVERY SERVICES EXPLANATORY NOTE The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on mobility pushed people to explore new and more convenient ways of shopping and dining. According to Grab's "Food and Grocery Trends" report, 7 in 10 Filipino consumers now consider delivery services a permanent part of their lifestyle, with both frequency and per-order spending significantly increasing from 2019 to 2022.1 It is undeniable that deliveries of food, grocery, supplies, and even medical supplies had become the preferred way of shopping of consumers, since these services offer the ease of buying without leaving the comforts of their homes. However, alongside this growing reliance on delivery services is a troubling rise in fraudulent activities. In these incidents, perpetrators place cash-on-delivery orders and become unreachable when the rider arrives, leaving the rider burdened with unpaid goods. Given the increasing number of consumers opting for safer and more convenient purchasing methods, the incidents of fake bookings, and the growing 1 https://www.rappler.com/business/filipinos-see-food-deliveries-part-new-normal-grab-trend-report 2022/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

population of delivery riders across the country, it is incumbent upon the State to ensure the protection of all parties involved. The rights and safety of both customers and riders must be upheld in every transaction. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO

Senate Difer of the critetarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 AUG 27 P2:18 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1283 Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT PROVIDING MEASURES TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN FOOD, GROCERY AND PHARMACY DELIVERY SERVICES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as "Food, Grocery, and

Pharmacy Delivery Services Protection Act of 2025."

Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined

as follows: (a) Food, Grocery, and Pharmacy Delivery Service - a form of courier or delivery service where a person through a mobile phone application, internet website or any other similar platform orders food, grocery or pharmaceutical items from a third-party seller and engages the service of a rider or driver for the delivery of said order for a fee; (b) Food, Grocery, and Pharmacy Delivery Service Providers or Service Providers - these are the persons or entities who are engaged in the business of providing food, grocery and pharmacy delivery services by way of mobile phone applications, internet websites or other similar platforms; (c) Delivery Riders or Drivers - regardless of the existing contractual relationship with the service providers, these are persons who perform the delivery

1 services by picking up the ordered items from the third-party seller, and delivering the items to the customers who avail of the service; (d) Confirmed Order - there shall be a confirmed order once the customer sends his confirmation to the delivery rider or driver with respect to the order for the purchase of food, grocery and/or pharmaceutical items.

Sec. 3. Prohibition Against Advance Payment. - It shall be prohibited for any

food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service provider to require delivery riders or drivers to advance any monetary amount for the fulfillment of orders.' In case of cancellation of confirmed orders, the food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service provider shall still pay the delivery riders or drivers for the service fee due them as if the transaction was successful. In turn, it shall be the duty of the service providers to pursue claims for collection from its cancelling customers. Any investigation or inquiry conducted by the service providers on the propriety or validity of the cancellation shall not affect the right of the riders/drivers to collect their respective service fee as provided under this section. Any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service provider who shall be found to be in violation of the prohibition on requiring monetary advances from delivery riders or drivers shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of arresto mayor and/or fine of an amount not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) and the licenses and permits of said violators shall be revoked. This is without prejudice to any other available remedies under existing laws.

Sec. 4. Know-Your-Customer Rules for Food, Grocery and Pharmacy Delivery

Service. - The service providers shall require its customers, prior to the registration with their mobile phone applications, internet websites or other similar platforms, to submit a valid proof of identity. The processing of personal information done in accordance with this section shall be fully compliant with the requirements of Republic Act No. 10173, or the "Data Privacy Act of 2012."

Sec. 5. Prohibited Acts. -

(a) Using Another Person's Personal Information. - it shall be unlawful for any person to use the personal information of another such as, but not limited to, name, address, and contact number when registering for any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service; (b) Cancellation of Confirmed Orders - it shall be unlawful for any person to cancel a confirmed order unless such option is specifically allowed by the food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service hired; (c) Placing of Hoax Order - it shall be unlawful for any person to: (1) place an order under the name of another unless the latter consented to the same; (2) place 10 an order using a fictitious name, addressor both; and (d) Refusal to Receive Unpaid Order - it shall be unlawful for any person to unjustly refuse to receive an order when such order has been placed by him personally or if the order is placed by virtue of his authority. Any person who shall commit any of the prohibited acts as provided for in this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of arresto mayor and/or fine of an amount not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) without prejudice to any other available remedies under existing laws.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the

application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,