Opting to lessen the burden of poor delivery men, the local government has imposed no gate fees policy for deliveries of essential goods in private subdivisions inside Biñan City during the pandemic.
RESPONDING to complaints of delivery personnel being charged with fees for entering private subdivisions in Biñan City, Laguna, the city government recently passed an executive order temporarily suspending the collection of fees from subdivision to delivery personnel.
This was bared by Atty. Edward Arriba during his segment “In CASE You Didn’t Know,” on April 5’s episode of “OpinYon News Ngayon. ”
Biñan City Ordinance No. 10 Photo by Marly Felipe Vasquez, Facebook
Biñan City Ordinance No. 10 Photo by Marly Felipe Vasquez, Facebook
Executive Order No. 10 series of 2021, recently released by City Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Jr., temporarily prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) in the city from collecting gate fees from delivery personnel bringing “essential goods and services” to private subdivisions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Naiintindihan po ng ating City Mayor, lalung-lalo na po ngayong MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) po ang ating lungsod, na limited po ang paglabas ng ating mga kababayan," Arriba explained.
Laguna province is currently under MECQ until May 14.
"Dahil limited [ang paglabas], dapat luwagan po natin ang mga option na kung saan makaka-access po ang ating mga kababayan, gaya po sa pagbili ng essential goods," he added.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had said last year that charging gate fees – a common practice by many private subdivisions and villages – is "not allowed if it's only delivery."
Residents had complained that the gate fees not only slow down delivery of basic goods but also forces them to pay extra for their purchases.
Arriba added that the city government is now crafting a frequently asked questions (FAQ) guide for Biñanenses to know what “essential goods” are under the EO.
However, the lawyer clarified that the waiving of gate fees only covers “personal consumption” and not commercial establishments.
“Hindi po kasama ang delivery sa mga tindahan o karinderya sa loob ng mga subdivision, dahil malinaw po na nakasaad sa executive order ay ‘personal consumption’ lamang,” he added.
See the full segment on OpinYon’s YouTube channel. (ONT)
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