Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia pledged to ease the burdens of approximately 2,000 motorcycle delivery riders by covering their accident insurance, waiving their business permit fee for 2025, and granting amnesty on unpaid penalties required to obtain a transportation license to operate in the city.
“I’m happy to provide immediate relief for the delivery riders while their legal victory is on appeal. These are hardworking individuals trying to make an honest living on their motorcycles, most of whom are the sole breadwinners in their families. These are small tokens of appreciation,” Garcia announced during a dialogue with over 250 motorcycle riders from food delivery apps Grab and Food Panda.
The delivery riders reached out to Garcia’s office on November 13 to discuss their working conditions and requested accident insurance and the waiver of business permits.
After winning a P7.4 million suit before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) against foodpanda, their compensation is currently on hold after the delivery company filed an appeal with a higher court.
Garcia also waived any outstanding penalties needed to obtain an ID from the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), which is a requirement for all motorcycle-based businesses in the city, previously viewed by the riders as an additional financial burden.
Mayor Garcia and council member Jun Alcover, who attended the dialogue organized by the Aksyon Na Ta grassroots organization, have been negotiating with a local insurance underwriter to provide accident insurance for thousands of habal-habal drivers in the city.
“I am not going to ask for the city to pay for this. I will pay for it from my own pocket,” Garcia stated.
He assured the delivery riders that these three initiatives are underway and that their request for city government intervention will be officially discussed in an executive session of the Sangguniang Panglungsod on November 20.
“I will also invite and initiate a dialogue with delivery platform companies to discuss these other issues and hopefully find solutions that are beneficial to all of you,” Garcia concluded.
