BAGUIO CITY – The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, requested existing food delivery companies operating in the city to comply with prevailing health, safety and sanitation standards in coordination with the City Health Services Office (CHSO), City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO), and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO).
In a resolution, city legislators pointed out the food delivery companies need to adhere to the health, safety and sanitation protocols in the operation of their businesses to ensure that foo delivered to their clients will be safe.
Further, the council stated the motorcycle riders of the food delivery companies need to be oriented on existing traffic rules and regulations as it has been observed that many of their riders are allegedly reckless when on the streets often resulting to vehicular accidents.
Based on a report from the Baguio city Police Office–Traffic Enforcement Unit (BCPO-TEU), eight vehicular accidents had been recorded by the city police force during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ) periods with 6 of the said incidents involving motorcycle riders of food delivery companies.
On his part, City Permits and Licensing officer Allan Abayao claimed the special permit previously granted to food delivery companies already expired on May 31, 2020.
Abayao added that upon the filing of their application for the issuance of their regular business permit, the companies will be required to present their sanitation permits and the health certificate of their workers to ensure their compliance to the existing health and sanitation protocols handed down by concerned government agencies and the city government.
The council pointed out food delivery companies must closely work with the relevant offices of the city government to ensure their operations are compliant with established health and safety protocols, especially now that the city is transitioning from modified GCQ to the new normal.
Representatives from Grab Food, Food Ninja and Food Panda informed city legislators that their motorcycle riders are being trained on proper food handling, adherence to safety and health protocols and safety driving.
However, the councilors raised with the food delivery companies their observations that some of their riders are reportedly reckless when they are on delivery runs with the potential of creating accidents.
Moreover, councilors also reiterated that food delivery riders should be reminded that overtaking must only be done on the inner or left lane and not on the outside or right lane of streets to avoid any untoward incident while food delivery companies should constantly remind their riders of the importance of adhering to safety driving.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Joseph B. Manzano
