Senate panel OKs bill criminalizing ‘hoax ordering,’ order cancellations

Food delivery workers continue to provide service despite the community quarantine declared by the Philippine government during the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown in Manila on March 20, 2020. (Photo by Maria TAN / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate panel has approved a bill seeking to criminalize “hoax ordering” in a bid to protect delivery riders.

The bill was contained in the Committee Report No. 273, which was recently filed by the Senate trade committee chaired by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

The proposed law seeks to criminalize several prohibited acts, such as placing of “hoax orders,” cancellation of confirmed orders, and refusal to receive unpaid orders.

“The recent incidents of fake booking and hoax orders are quite alarming. Those acts must be criminalized. Nagtatrabaho ang ating mga riders nang maayos. Yung iba ay inaabot pa ng madaling araw sa kalye para kumita ng pera. Hindi sila dapat linoloko,” Pimentel said in a statement Tuesday.

(The recent incidents of fake booking and hoax orders are quite alarming. Those acts must be criminalized. Our riders are working properly. Some are even working until dawn just to earn money. They do not deserve to be fooled.)

The act of using another person’s personal information when registering for any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service will also be penalized under the measure.

The bill also prohibits food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service app providers from requiring their delivery riders and drivers to advance money for the payment of the orders.

It also requires these delivery service app providers to “establish a mandatory reimbursement scheme in favor of delivery riders and drivers in case of cancellation of confirmed orders.”

Under the bill, the implementation of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules will also be required. These rules entail the submission and verification of proof of identity and residential address of customers, subject to compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

In filing the committee report, Pimentel underscored the urgent need to protect delivery riders of all food, grocery and pharmacy delivery services amid the rising cases of unjust order cancellations and bogus transactions.

“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 grown accustomed to online services,” he said.