THE Davao City Business Bureau announced that it is waiting for the publication of an ordinance exempting delivery riders from paying business permit fees before implementation can begin.
Maribel Paguican, head of the Business Bureau, said the new ordinance will reduce the fee for delivery riders to just ₱128, replacing the ₱3,000 to ₱5,000 previously required for business permits. She confirmed that Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has already signed the ordinance.
“Kato nalang gyud ang ginahulat para makasulti ta that we can implement (We’re just waiting for the publication before we can officially implement it),” Paguican said in a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on January 2, 2024.
Paguican also explained that delivery riders can decide whether to renew or retire their business permits while waiting for the ordinance to take effect. She encouraged riders to coordinate with their companies during this short waiting period to continue operating.
On December 5, 2024, the 20th City Council approved the ordinance on its third and final reading. It amends the 2017 Revenue Code, eliminating the requirement for delivery riders to secure business permits. Instead, riders will pay an annual occupational fee of ₱125.
The ordinance repeals seven provisions of the 2017 Revenue Code, including Section 5, Paragraph (C30), and Sections 79, 97, 229, 231, and 233. These amendments align the code with the Anti-Red Tape Authority and Department of Trade and Industry guidelines for streamlining business permit processes and the Department of Finance Local Finance Circular No. 001-2022.
The revised ordinance significantly eases the financial burden on delivery riders, who faced high fees in previous years. However, a 25 percent surcharge will be imposed on those who fail to pay the occupational fee on time.
The United Davao Delivery Riders Association (Uddra) celebrated the move as a victory, ending the three-year requirement for delivery riders to secure business permits. RGP
