In an act of solidarity, foodpanda logistics has pledged over PHP5 million in food and essential supplies to support its delivery partners impacted by Super Typhoon Carina. This generous donation, part of the Panda Pag-asa program, aims to aid approximately 10,000 “Ka-panda” delivery partners across severely affected areas including Metro Manila, Cainta, South Metro Manila, Baguio, and Bulacan.
The initiative includes the deployment of pandaPatrol: Hub on Wheels, which will traverse these cities, distributing critical relief items such as water, rice, and canned goods. “Our Ka-pandas are always in our minds and hearts. We strive to act quickly and effectively to provide relief to our heroes who are always ready to serve customers,” according to foodpanda logistics Rider Experience Lead Ron Sanders.
Addressing Challenges Post-Typhoon
In the wake of the typhoon, which brought severe flooding to Metro Manila and adjacent provinces, delivery partners became indispensable as residents relied heavily on them for essential food and groceries. To bolster their efforts, foodpanda logistics has introduced a nationwide earnings boost to assist Ka-pandas in managing delays and other challenges brought about by the storm.
One compelling story from the aftermath involves Ronnel Quinto, a committed foodpanda logistics delivery partner who left his motorcycle in a safe location and waded through knee-deep floodwaters in Makati to deliver an order on foot. In a heartfelt video, Ronnel expressed his determination, “Ide-deliver natin to (order) kahit anong mangyari. Kailangan ihatid to dahil lalamig na.” [“We will deliver this (order) no matter what happens. It needs to be delivered because it will get cold.”]
Similarly, Mark Joseph Quirabo, another “Ka-panda” delivery partner, braved the floodwaters in Olongapo to ensure an order reached its destination. He recounted, “Kawawa din po mga customer lalo kahapon, bahang baha po dito sa Gapo kaya tyinaga ko na ring i-deliver. Gusto ko rin po kumuha ng session dahil kailangan magsumikap araw-araw para sa pamilya.” [“The customers were also in a difficult situation, especially yesterday. It was heavily flooded here in Gapo, so I made sure to deliver the orders. I also want to get a session because I need to work hard every day for my family.”]
“We understand that some orders might take longer, resulting in extended wait times for our Ka-pandas compared to usual. To compensate for this, we’ve initiated a timely earnings boost for delivery partners handling delayed orders,” said Sanders.
Support Beyond Deliveries
In addition to food deliveries, grocery orders have become essential for many households stockpiling supplies during the storm. Ka-panda Leonardo Antig Jr. from San Pedro, Laguna, expressed his gratitude after receiving free snacks from foodpanda’s grocery arm, pandamart, while picking up orders. “Maraming salamat po (sa libreng pagkain) dahil naa-appreciate ninyo yung pag-deliver namin kahit maulan.” [“Thank you very much (for the free food) because you appreciate our deliveries even when it’s raining.”]
foodpanda logistics has praised these modern-day heroes, emphasizing that their acts of dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed.
“We remind our Ka-pandas to always prioritize their safety, but some truly go above and beyond to ensure orders are delivered. In return, we also ask our customers to be patient with our delivery partners if there are delays due to the adverse weather conditions,” Sanders added.