Antonio Sarmiento, a tricycle driver for 13 years now, lost his source of income when the Enhanced Community Quarantine – the strictest lockdown level – was imposed in March days after the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic.
Clueless as to how to provide for his family, he would learn later on through his local Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA) that foodpanda is offering drivers like him a new job opportunity as riders of the on-demand food delivery service.
He quickly enlisted along with 18 of his friends.
“Labis na kasiyahan po talaga ang naramdaman ko noon. Malaking pasasalamat po talaga sa foodpanda kasi binigyan nila ako, kami, ng bagong hanap-buhay,” Sarmiento said.
Making the transition from transporting passengers to food orders was no small task, and the biggest adjustment was operating on a much larger area as opposed to the limited routes granted to tricycle drivers.
Jun Sanchez, unlike the veteran Sarmiento, was just starting his career as a tricycle driver when the ECQ was imposed.
Sanchez, who tried to sustain his family's needs using the meager savings he had been able to set aside, also received an invitation to join the PandaTODA program.
“Noong una kinabahan ako kasi hindi ko pa alam yung mga gagawin. Nakakapanibago rin kasi hindi katulad sa tricycle na nakasakay ka lang maghapon, dito kailangan maglakad ka para maghatid-sundo ng pagkain,” he said. “Pero masaya at masarap sa pakiramdam na makitang masaya ang mga customer ko.”
The PandaTODA program also afforded him the work flexibility that he did not enjoy when he was still a tricycle driver.
“Dahil po sa PandaTODA, nakagawa po ako ng schedule na mas maaga na po akong nakakauwi sa pamilya ko. Bukod po sa kumikita ng extra, mas nakakasama ko pa po ‘yung mga mahal ko sa buhay. Mas maraming family time,” Sanchez said.
A mix of excitement and anxiety was likewise felt by John Bolanos, who has been working as a tricycle driver for 8 years now, when he was told about the PandaTODA program.
“Takot na takot po ako nun kasi iniisip ko baka matapon yung pagkain,” Bolanos recalled his first successful delivery as a foodpanda rider.
“Madali lang po ‘yung adjustment ko kasi maganda rin po na madaling gamitin ‘yung foodpanda app. Malakas rin po talaga ang samahan ng mga rider kasi nagtutulungan po talaga kaming lahat. Parang nakahanap din po ako ng bagong pamilya dito.”
While life has been anything but easy for anyone in these trying times, foodpanda continues to deliver solutions to help people. Under the PandaTODA program, tricycle drivers get more than new livelihood: they also enjoy the perks and rewards that go with being part of the foodpanda family.
To know more about all the inspiring initiatives of foodpanda Philippines, as well as to enjoy its unmatched food and grocery delivery deals and promos, download and order through the foodpanda app now at www.foodpanda.ph. Follow foodpanda’s official social media pages on Facebook at facebook.com/foodpandaphilippines and Instagram at instagram.com/foodpanda_ph