THE Senate on Monday afternoon approved on third and final reading a measure that would protect delivery riders from “hoax ordering.”
All 23 senators present during the hybrid session voted in favor of Senate Bill No. 2302 or the Proposed Food, Grocery, and Pharmacy Delivery Services Protection Act, which seeks to punish individuals who place hoax orders online.
The bill was approved on second reading without amendments on December 14, 2021.
It was filed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, committee on trade chairman, due to the recent “quite alarming” fake bookings and hoax orders online.
“We need a law protecting our delivery riders and drivers. It is very timely and relevant.
Even after the pandemic, this measure will be relevant because we have now accustomed to online services,” Pimentel earlier said.
The proposed measure seeks to criminalize acts such as placing fake orders, cancellation of confirmed orders, and refusal to receive unpaid orders.
The measure also required delivery services app providers to “establish a mandatory reimbursement scheme in favor of delivery riders and drivers in case of cancellation of confirmed orders.”
The implementation of Know-Your-Customers (KYC) rules will also be in place, which requires the submission and verification of proof of identity and residential address of customers which is subject to compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The use of another person’s personal information when registering for any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service will also be penalized under the bill.
The measure, however, prohibits food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery riders and drivers to ask for advance payments from their customers.
