SENATE Christopher “Bong” Go has urged transportation network company Grab Philippines to strike a fair balance between their business interests and those of their drivers, riders, and customers amid the company’s planned increase in commission rates.

“Balansehin muna natin nang maayos ang interes po ng ating delivery service drivers to earn more at ang mga consumers naman natin na hindi lumaki ang kanilang gastusin,” said Go in an ambush interview after aiding fire victims in Las Piñas City.

Go emphasized the significance of every peso for the riders as well as the customers, pleading with the company not to shift the burden onto them.

“Napakalaking bagay po ang bawat piso o sentimo para sa ating mga kababayan lalung lalo na po sa mga mahihirap, not only sa mga pasahero. (Huwag sana) ipapasa ang burden sa kanila o sa driver naman po ipapasa ang burden,” said Go.

“Malaki po ang bawat piso na matitipid nila. Sana po ‘wag ipasa sa kanila ang burden. Huwag muna sanang mag-increase (ng commission ang Grab),” he added.

Grab’s commission increase comes at a time when rising fuel prices have been cited by a number of delivery riders and drivers who have petitioned the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to regulate app-based ride-hailing and delivery services.

“Dapat nga lalo natin silang proteksyunan, pangalagaan ang mga drivers natin imbes dagdagan ang porsyento ng (komisyon ng Grab). Minsan kasi ipapatong po doon sa mga drivers, kung hindi naman sa mga drivers baka ipatong doon sa mga pasahero,” said Go.

“Nasa gitna pa tayo ng krisis, kung maaari pag-aralan muna nang mabuti na hindi masyadong pabigat sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po sa mahihirap,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Go shared that he filed Senate Bill No. 1184 which seeks to protect the welfare and interest of the country’s delivery service riders.

“At ako naman po bilang senador, mayro’n din akong nai-file sa Senado, ito pong SBN 1184 o ang Delivery Riders Protection Act. Sa pamamagitan po nito bibigyan ng service providers ng proteksyon ang mga delivery riders laban sa mapang-abusong mga consumers lalung-lalo na ‘yung umoorder ng pagkain, grocery, at gamot,” said Go.

Despite braving the risk of the pandemic, delivery riders unfortunately sometimes face unfair practices and appalling incidence of fake or cancelled bookings and orders.

This led the legislator to push for strengthened social and welfare protection for the country’s delivery riders, and ensure that the rights and safety of both the customers and riders are upheld in every transaction.

Under the proposed law, it shall be prohibited for any food, grocery, and pharmacy delivery service provider to require riders or drivers to shell out any monetary amount for the fulfillment of orders. In case of cancellation of orders, the service providers shall still pay the delivery riders for their services as though the transaction was successful.

More so, any service provider who will violate the prohibition on requiring monetary advances from delivery riders shall be subject to penalty fees.

The law shall also adopt a “Know-Your-Customer Rules”, which shall require the customers, prior to the registration with their mobile phone applications, internet websites or other similar platforms, to submit a valid proof of identity. This shall likewise be implemented by the service providers.