GrabFood rider Remar Briones is reviewing his signature espresso brews in case slowing orders force him to return to his pre-pandemic job as a barista and park the bike that has made him one of the heroes of the pandemic.
With restrictions down to just face masks and vaccine cards, Briones said he's lucky if he gets to bring home P500 a day, a far cry from the usual P1,500 to P2,000 he used to earn daily at the height of the ECQ.
"Iniisip ko na bumalik na rin sa trabaho ko talaga kasi lumuwag na. Nag-message na po ako sa dati kong manager na baka pwede na makabalik sa pagiging barista kasi humina na ang delivery. Hindi na kagaya dati," Briones told reportr.
"Lumiit na din ang mga tip. Dati, sobrang bait tapos mahaba talaga pasensya ng mga nag-oorder, ngayon medyo mainitin na ulit ang ulo ng iba. Back to normal na kumbaga," he added.
Restaurant dining, malling and travel are back again as the Philippines started to transition to the "new normal" this month, which means that all businesses are allowed to operate at full capacity for the first time in two years.
But for those still on remote work or are just anxious about going out, food deliveries will remain in demand, a reminder of how the pandemic disrupted consumption habits, said Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (RestoPH) head Eric Teng.
"People who are comfortable dining out are already doing it but that's not everyone. There are still many people who are not comfortable with going out so that's why food deliveries have to be improved," Teng told reportr.
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What's the role of food deliveries in the new normal?
In the new normal, food deliveries will serve as extensions of restaurants to reach more potential customers and digitalize their services, GrabFood head Greg Camacho said.
"As we ease back to 'normal' or our pre-pandemic ways, the reality is that both ordering in and eating out will remain relevant," Camacho told reportr.
"We see the opportunity to not only help merchant-partners build a strong online presence on GrabFood, but also work with them to digitalize their restaurants to offer a more convenient and consistent experience for their customers," he added.
Food deliveries and dining-in cater to different needs of customers and can work hand-in-hand in the new normal, RestoPH head Teng said.
"Of course, dining in offers the experience and service that you won't get with food deliveries. For example, when you order a sizzling plate at the restaurant, you get it hot. You get the experience. That's not something you'll get with food deliveries," Teng said.
What's clear is that while restaurants offer the dining experience, food deliveries satisfy the cravings.
"Now they can enjoy the most-loved Chickenjoy meal from Jollibee or a refreshing iced coffee drink from Starbucks in the comfort of their homes," Camacho said.
In terms of food delivery favorites, Camacho said GrabFood noticed increased support for small local brands, attributing the interest to Filipinos' innate sense of Bayanihan.
"This year, we believe that menu offerings from small and local merchants will gain popularity as Filipino eaters are also on the lookout for new and affordable food experiences to try," he said.
What's next for food deliveries and the riders?
Even with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, GrabFood's Camacho said the platform still expects a "continued frequency" of food deliveries, which shows that Filipinos have adopted the habit of ordering food online.
"We can still anticipate food delivery to continue to thrive since we noticed how the pandemic changed consumers’ view of food delivery services, even bringing in more users," Camacho told reportr. "This shows us that Filipinos have now really adopted the habit of ordering food cravings online."
Making food deliveries a staple for Filipinos, not just those in Metro Manila, is GrabFood's goal as the country moves towards the new normal.
"With Filipinos now more open and reliant on food delivery services, we at Grab believe that cities outside of Metro Manila are also more than ready to embrace such a service," Camacho said.
Even with food deliveries expected to stay relevant, for riders like Briones, new normal shifts in the industry also mean adjustments in their jobs.
"Hindi naman mawala 'yang food delivery. Mag-rider pa rin naman ako kung puwede, pero mas i-prioritize ko na muna kung makabalik ako sa trabaho ko dati para mag-normal na ulit," he said.
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