Valenzuela taps app to augment tricycle drivers’ income

MANILA, Philippines — The Valenzuela City government is urging residents to patronize “Toda Pasabuy,” an online delivery service that aims to provide tricycle drivers extra income as they struggle to cope with the quarantine that has been in force in Metro Manila for nearly three months.

City Hall recently partnered with motorcycle-hailing company JoyRide to meet the demand for online “pasabuy” — a play on the Filipino word “pasabay” (often a request to hitch a ride or have something delivered) and the English word “buy” — and ease the residents’ worries about getting infected with the new coronavirus.

Residents can book drivers through the Happy Move app, JoyRide’s online delivery services alternative, where they will only need to specify the goods they need to buy at a certain store or marketplace in the city, including wet markets, hardware stores and pharmacies.

‘Big help’

“This is a way for drivers and partner merchants to have an additional source of income. This also serves as an opportunity for partner merchants to have a delivery option,” the local government said.

Drivers and operators welcomed the initiative.

“[Toda Pasabuy] is a big help to all of us,” said Luis Jugueta, president of the local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (Toda) in Barangay Ugong. “We do not want to add to Mayor [Rex Gatchalian]’s burdens anymore, and we are grateful that we were allowed to operate during MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine).”

City public information office chief Zyan Caiña said 150 Toda drivers were endorsed to join the orientation with JoyRide earlier this month. Applicants are now being screened.

“The Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office will give funds to the drivers to buy goods instead of using their own money. This will be coursed through GCash or PayMaya. A special uniform and ID will be provided by the LGU,” he added.

Delivery fee

A delivery fee — which will go to the tricycle driver — will be charged per transaction.

Around 8,000 drivers of traditional and electric tricycles in the city have been affected by the ban on public transportation under the quarantine restrictions enforced in Metro Manila.

They were allowed to resume operations only on May 16 but at only one passenger per trip for traditional tricycles and three passengers for e-tricycles and were also required to install a plastic barrier between the driver and passenger.

“To avoid unfair competition among Toda pasabuyers, [the drivers] may only accept deliveries with points of origin situated within their respective Toda territorial districts,’’ read City Ordinance No. 710, or the “Pasabuy sa Toda Ordinance.”

“However, Toda pasabuyers may traverse roads outside their Toda territorial district, except along MacArthur Highway, to reach the point of destination.”

The ordinance sets fines ranging from P5,000 to P15,000 for market vendors who refuse to honor transactions with or extend services to accredited Pasabuy drivers.