About 150 tricycle drivers are expected to get new livelihood opportunities on the food delivery service industry, as the city government of Valenzuela on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Food Panda Philippines Incorporated (FPPI).

Under the agreement, the two parties agreed to provide additional means for tricycle drivers to generate income by maximizing online food delivery services amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the pact will address the current situation of the tricycle drivers in Valenzuela City.

“Dagdag ito sa hanapbuhay ng mga driver natin na patuloy na naaapektuhan nitong krisis na ito (This is an additional livelihood for our drivers who are still hit by the prevailing crisis),” Gatchalian said in a Facebook live video.

He added the partnership is part of the city’s efforts to embrace the new normal activities.

“This is an instruction of the new normal since it is not advisable anymore that we go to restaurants but rather to avail of the services of the restaurants. We bring it [food] to them [people]. We know that Food Panda’s partnership with different restaurants is of a large scale, this is a proof that we can help our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises here in Valenzuela,” Gatchalian said.

The city government said that under the memorandum, the existing ‘PasaBuy system’– the online food delivery service will be improved and open up more livelihood opportunities for Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Associations (TODAs) in the city.

According to the city government, Foodpanda, one of the most popular online food delivery apps in the country–has initiated “pandaTODA”–a Corporate Social Advocacy (CSA), to support local communities ensuring that its partner restaurants are made more available and accessible to the people.

It also seeks to provide alternative means of living to tricycle drivers who were adversely affected by the public transportation restrictions amid the imposition of the community quarantine.

The agreement stated that the TODAs in the city will be part of the delivery system, Gatchalian said, assuring more options for the tricycle drivers to earn during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Leopoldo de Castro, Jr., FPPI finance director, said the company only aims to support the displaced TODA riders.

“At the same time, this program supports the community to lessen the foot traffic outside their homes,” de Castro added.

“Our contribution is basically, we aim to deliver the food at the doorstep of each and every homeowner. So ‘yun ‘yung ating pangako sa ating komunidad and iyan ‘yung aming tulong sa panahon ng pandemiya (this is our promise and this is our assistance to the community during the time of the pandemic),” he said.

The local government said the Ordinance No. 710, Series of 2020, or the “Pasabuy sa TODA Ordinance” also supports the agreement of the city with Foodpanda.

The ordinance also aims to entice TODA drivers to temporarily engage in online delivery services outside their franchise coverage and to also assist them in the registration process to be an online delivery or “pasabuy” service.

The tricycle operations in the city are still limited and are based on an odd-even number coding scheme following the minimum health standards set by the IATF.

The city government said those tricycle drivers whose numbers are not allowed to ply the roads on a specific day, can operate as a pandaTODA rider.

The city’s Public Employment Service Office – Local Economic Investment Promotions Office (PESO-LEIPO) and the Public Order and Safety Group (POSG) of the City will identify and screen the qualified beneficiary drivers for the program.

Around 150 beneficiary drivers are set to be trained to become an official pandaTODA rider, the city government added. (PNA)

Photo Credit: www.valenzuela.gov.ph