LGU partners with Food Panda to help displaced tricycle drivers
Following Gensan, delivery app Foodpanda has partnered with Koronadal City to employ at least 100 tricycle drivers whose livelihoods were jeopardized due to the community quarantine.
On Thursday, City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena and Food Panda Philippines, Inc., signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to implement the ‘pandaTODA Project.’
Public Employment Services Office (PESO) head Bernardo Taperla facilitated the program to generate livelihood for the tricycle drivers through delivery services which would supplement their meager earnings.
According to Mayor Ogena, the project will help provide convenience to Koronadaleños and local entrepreneurs.
“At last, it happened. The digital age has come to Koronadal. Very grateful ako nga kahit papaano mabuligan ang mga taga-Marbel, mas hapos ang transaction hindi kita maparalyze tungod may COVID. The problem now in Koronadal is not COVID but the economy,” the chief executive expressed.
In the program, qualified drivers will be provided with pink uniforms, thermo bags, orientation, training, the same benefits, incentives and other advantages.
After at least two months, pandaTODA recruits will be able to choose whether or not to continue working as Foodpanda riders.
Meanwhile, FPPI City Manager Michael Carbon said that this is just the start of the few activities and campaigns they will launch in Koronadal.
“Through this pandaTODA, it’s our first step to creating more programs, not only for South Cotabato alone but for Koronadal City specifically. Here in Koronadal, we are very excited to launch more partnerships. I think may mga partnerships na i-lalaunch na this year, some of them konting repaso nalang and ilulunsad po namin ito sa Koronadal,” Carbon said.
The pandaTODA project was first introduced in Manila, then in Pasig. Koronadal is currently the second city in Visayas and Mindanao to sign this agreement, following General Santos City.