THE city government of Manila on Monday inked an agreement with Food Panda Philippines Inc. intended to keep residents at home while providing job opportunities to 500 tricycle drivers.
Under the agreement, Food Panda will hire an initial 500 tricycle drivers to serve as online delivery riders.
Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno Domagoso said the partnership, dubbed PandaTODA, will give residents the option to order products through online delivery service and no longer go to public markets daily, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
Domagoso said they are eyeing the set-up as part of the “new normal” while helping trike drivers affected by the temporary suspension of public transport amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It gives opportunity to those who are gravely affected since day one, which is the transport group, and for everyone to still enjoy their favorite meal at their doorstep,” Moreno said.
Food Panda Philippines Inc. managing director Daniel Marogy said the tricycle drivers they will hire can do the job part-time or full time.
“The total earning opportunities are very competitive and it’s also flexible. They can choose how many hours they work per week,” Marogy said.
Fernan Bermejo, chief of the Manila Public Employment Service Office, said Food Panda promised to hire more tricycle drivers “once the program kicks off.”
