MANILA, PHILIPPINES, May 2020 – foodpanda, an on-demand food delivery app in the Philippines, continues to expand its pandaTODA project to help and support hundreds of tricycle drivers and their families who lost their livelihood during the pandemic. 

After a successful launch of the project earlier this month, foodpanda and the Quezon City Government launched today pandaTODA-QC with the signing of a partnership agreement that will recruit and train Quezon City tricycle drivers to become foodpanda partner riders. As part of the partnership, they will be  provided with foodpanda uniforms and thermo bags, free of charge, and will be required to be active on the platform for three months. After this period, they will have the choice of continuing their engagement with foodpanda.

“We are fortunate for this partnership with foodpanda as this will help alleviate the situation of our tricycle drivers whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic. They will have sustainable income because there is a growing demand for food delivery services from people at home.” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Under the partnership agreement, the Quezon City Government through its Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management, Tricycle Regulation Division (TRD) will screen tricycle drivers who meet the requirements as foodpanda delivery riders and complete a list of 500 names. The City Government will also assist them in securing work permits and other relevant passes to allow them mobility in the Metro.

“Food delivery is an essential service during this time, whether we are in a community quarantine or not. As the threat of the virus continues, people would want to keep staying at home as much as possible to minimize the risks to their health and lives. So we want to make sure that the tricycle drivers the City endorsed are well able and qualified to safely deliver foodpanda’s service to its customers.” said Mona Yap, OIC at the Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office that facilitated the partnership with foodpanda.

Now on its third partner City, pandaTODA is slated to continue to bring livelihood opportunities to tricycle drivers in other select cities in Metro Manila, and provinces where foodpanda is operating. 

“We are glad that many have seen the value of our project and approached us with a request to be our next pandaTODA partners. Our intent is to accommodate as many tricycle drivers as our project can.” said Daniel Marogy, foodpanda Philippines’ Managing Director.  

“So even as the NCR came under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) last May 16 that allowed as much as 50% of tricycles to operate again in each city, our project will continue to expand and help some of the other 50% tricycle drivers who still can not earn a living.” Marogy further added.

To support the local businesses and the community, foodpanda currently offers free delivery throughout the month of May. Well-loved favorites from different cities are open to ensure customers are able to order all the food they love during this period.