DAVAO delivery riders feared they might still pay the annual fees during the business permit fee renewal in January 2025.
The United Davao Delivery Riders Association (UDDRA) gathered on the grounds of Sanguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday, during the scheduled session of the 20th City Council, to demand exclusion from securing a business permit.
Eduardo Quijano, UDDRA president and Grab delivery rider, said they would knock door-to-door on every office of each lawmaker if necessary.
“Karon ginahangyo namo ang mga opisyal sa atong dakbayan sa Davao nga ma revoke ang business permit, so among ginapaningkamotan nga ma proceed ni before the end of this year (We ask Davao officials to revoke our business permit and we will strive to finish this before the of the year),” Quijano told reporters.
Without the exemption, the riders will pay 25% on top of the fees, which he said is “way too high.”
According to the group’s Nov. 5 statement, each rider is required to pay from P1,270 to P5,200, depending on their income assessment.
Quijano showed his business permit wherein the document, their business type is categorized as “Sole Proprietorship” with an investment of P50,000.
He insisted that the P50,000 investment refers to their capital, which is their motorcycle unit. However, 90% of the riders secured a loan and are still paying it monthly. He said the policy may drive away the riders who are earning a little above minimum wage.
Miguelito Royo, a MAXIM rider since 2021, shared that he just applied for a business permit last January 2024 and paid P1,700.
“Last year, sinabihan nila ang mga riders na sumunod sa patakaran at magkuha na ng business permit kaya napursige din akong kumuha para hindi masita (They told the riders to follow the rule and secure a business permit, so I made an effort to get one to avoid a penalty),” Royo said.
He said the fuel and maintenance are out-of-pocket expenses and they are also prone to being scammed by their customers. Royo said MAXIM also urged them to secure a business permit to avoid losing their accounts.
The riders visited the office of the Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, committee on trade and commerce, but the lawmaker was on sick leave.
To recall, the group pleaded in January to the office of the city Mayor Sebastian Duterte for a 30-day extension to comply with the business permit requirement and other regulatory fees.
In April, they attended a committee hearing presided over by Councilor Jesus Joseph Zozobrado, the committee on rules, privileges, laws, and ordinances, and told them to submit an updated petition letter.
Zozobrado said in April that they will conduct a joint hearing with the committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations, and labor and employment opportunities, once the group submits the said position paper.
The group was able to finalize the position paper and submit it to the office of Zozobrado, which was read in the first reading on the Oct. 22 regular session.
