Order cancellations, bogus orders, as well as "no-show" customers have presented to be a prevalent and consistent problem towards delivery service providers and riders. This is the reason why the House Bill (HB) No. 6958 or the Food and Grocery Delivery Services Protection Act was recently filed in Congress.
However, the bill is yet to be passed and signed into law; meaning that offenders may still be doing this without them facing charges and penalties.
Recently, Grab Philippines announced a new system. This new system will be able to provide a solution towards this problematic behaviour of rude customers for the meantime.
Read: Hire Filipinos First — Senator Hontiveros called on Malacañang
Through the new system, Grab riders will not shoulder expenses anymore on cash on delivery orders; instead the company itself, Grab, will be the one paying for the initial expenses of the customers.
Nicka Hosakam Grab Spokesperson and lawyer, made the revelation of this new update. She did it during a recent online hearing of the House Committee on Trade and Industry.
New System of Grab Food
The Grab Spokesperson and lawyer reported that the model will be implemented by August in which the rider will just have to simply pick up the order.
Moving towards August, we will be implementing this model whereby pagdating sa restaurant, the delivery partner will not need to pay any cash. He will simply pick up the order, and the restaurant will receive the payment straight via the app.”
In addition to that, she said that there is an existing wallet which the driver maintains.
Read: COVID-19 PUV Protocols to be Followed by the Commuting Public
Everything is done online. Meron tayong mine-maintain na driver wallet; so kung ano 'yung kokolektahin niya from the eater, ito ay made-debit sa kanyang wallet."
In Translation: We maintain a feature called the driver wallet, so whatever he collects from the eater, it will just be debited from his wallet.
How will the New System Work?
Once the rider receives the payment successfully, and the transaction has been completed; Grab will merely have to deduct from the rider’s ‘digital wallet’ the amount that he collected for the transaction.
The digital wallet is where Grab reimburses its riders for bogus or canceled orders, and this new system is somehow like a reverse process of the company’s reimbursement policy that it has in place.
However, if the client is a "no-show" customer; or a customer who wouldn't appear, nothing will be deducted from the rider's digital wallet.
Read: Jail Time for Six Years for Customers Who Cancel Food Delivery Orders
There currently is an existing reimbursement process in place by the company in which riders are compensated if there are order cancellations by the customer. Hosaka said that presently, riders have a maintaining balance of a P1,500-limit in their digital wallet during transactions, but this can be cashed out by the rider anytime.
Grab Riders Will Not Not Shoulder Expenses
The Grab Spokesperson says that the monetary liability will be on Grab which means Grab riders will not shoulder expenses of orders anymore.
We are just reversing [the process], it is already Grab who will advance it. One hundred percent of the monetary liability will now be on Grab."
Hosaka then clarified that the new model will not automatically cover all of their current merchants by August, but they will slowly work towards reaching their full target.
[We will start with] 70 percent of our merchants. Hindi pa po lahat ng merchants will be ready for the new model by August. Gradual po 'yung pag-implement depending on the merchant."
In Translation: Not all merchants will be ready and prepared for the new model by August. The implementation of this new system will be gradual depending on the merchant themselves.
House Bill 6598 or the Food and Grocery Delivery Services Act
Currently, the House committee is deliberating upon the House Bill 6598 or the Food and Grocery Delivery Services Act; in which offenders may be penalized of prision mayor or at least (6) six years of jail time. Offenders will also have to pay a P100,000 fine and reimburse the amount paid by the food and delivery service providers.
Not only that; they will also pay the provider an amount twice the fee of the cancelled transaction.
Meanwhile, those who shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate the delivery riders across any platform may face at least six months of imprisonment or prision correccional.
Read: DILG Advises to Attach a Sidecar to Motorcycles Instead of Back-Riding
AKO Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin, author of the bill, previously claimed that the House is "sincere in protecting" all food and delivery service providers from pranks on deliveries; especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
What do you think of this new system in which Grab riders will not shoulder expenses of the customers' orders? Moreover, do you agree with the House Bill 6598 or the Food and Grocery Delivery Services Act?
Source: Esquire Mag PH
Leave a Reply