United Davao Delivery Riders Association (UDDRA) members gathered before the Davao City Provincial Council today, November 5, to call on amending the ordinance requiring delivery riders to obtain a business permit. According to the group, the permit, which costs between ₱1,720 and ₱5,200, is an additional burden and expense for them. The ordinance was passed in 2021.

The riders gathered to urge the council to stop requiring them to obtain the permit every first month of the year. “Renewal period is approaching in a few months, with a 25% increase if it is not removed,” they said.

The group shared that the council already discussed the possibility of removing the permit requirement on October 22. “Upon inspection, it was just a resolution and has no teeth,” UDDRA emphasized.

The riders find the resolution insufficient as their years-long call for the business permit removal had no progress. “It’s all promises and no concrete action,” they said.

Facing this, the riders believe they need to take action to show their unity against the burdensome permit. An estimated 6,000 riders are expected to obtain new permits in January.