Delivery Riders Protection Act

Cifer of tin TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 21 P1:42 SENATE RECEIVED E S. No. _ Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT PROVIDING MEASURES TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN FOOD, GROCERY AND PHARMACY DELIVERY SERVICES EXPLANATORY NOTE The food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery industry in the Philippines has become an essential service, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delivery riders have emerged as modern-day frontliners, braving traffic, health risks, and weather conditions, ensuring that essential goods are brought directly to households. Despite this, riders remain among the most vulnerable frontline workers. They are often the victims unpaid, canceled orders, fake bookings, and unsafe working conditions, without formal labor protection. As of 2025, over 1.5 million Filipinos are engaged in digital platform work, with a significant share in delivery services. In Metro Manila alone, motorcycle-related road incidents rose to over 31,000 in 2024, continuing an upward trend that reflects both the growing number of riders and the dangers they face daily. I The proposed Delivery Riders Protection Act seeks to institutionalize a minimum standard of protection for individuals engaged in food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery services. It addresses long-standing issues such as forcing riders to advance cash ' The Struggles of Food Delivery Riders Deprived of Formal Employment Recognition: https://phkule.org/article/l 197/the-struggles-of-food-delivery-riders-deprived-of-formal-employment- recognition/?utm_source-chatgpt.com

payments for customer orders, even without guarantee of reimbursements, uncompensated cancellations, lack of accountability for fake or malicious customers who use fake names or cancel orders after confirmation, and absence of identity verification protocols among platform users, enabling abuse and fraud. This measure provides the following key protections: prohibits requiring riders to pay upfront for orders, mandates Know-Your-Customer protocols among platforms that will require proof of identity and address before registration, it also penalizes fraudulent practices, and further enables legal sanctions for both platforms and customers who violate these safeguards. With the continued rise of gig work and e-commerce, passing this measure is both urgent and necessary. It upholds the dignity and safety workers who have long been indispensable but overlooked. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO

Mier citin TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 21 P1:42 SENATE RECENC S. No. 742 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito 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 the "Delivery Riders Protection

Act."

Sec. 2. Scope and Coverage. - This Act covers all individuals engaged in delivery

service, whether they are hired employees, contractors, or gig workers through digital platforms, apps, or traditional delivery services, for food, grocery or pharmaceutical products.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(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 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

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. 4. Prohibitions Against Advance Payment. - It shall be prohibited for any

7 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 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 (Php 19 100,000.00) and the licenses and permits of said violators shall be revoked. This is without prejudice to any other available remedies under existing laws. If the violation is committed by a corporation, partnership, association, or any other kind of business entity that may be created by operation of law, the penalty provided in the next preceding paragraph shall be imposed upon its president, director, partner or any responsible officer that authorized monetary advances to be required.

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 and residential address. Procedures for verification of identity shall likewise be implemented by the service providers. 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 Persona! 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 an order using a fictitious name, address or 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 (Php 100,000.00) without prejudice to any other available remedies under existing laws.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared

unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum

orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

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

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation. Approved,