The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will launch an Amnesty Program this year to help unregistered Private Express and/or Messengerial Delivery Service (PEMEDES) operators go legal and join a professionalized delivery ecosystem.
PEMEDES covers all delivery workers, including riders, bikers, van drivers, foot messengers, and app-based couriers, who transport mail, parcels, and documents. Many have operated without a required Authority to Operate (ATO), which is mandated under Presidential Decree No. 240 and now enforced by the DICT under Republic Act Nos. 7354 and 10844.
The amnesty program is DICT’s response to findings that over 200 suspected unregistered delivery operators have been running services across the country as of April 30, 2025.
A program built on trust, not punishment
“We want to protect our people, not penalize them,” said DICT Secretary Henry Aguda. “This amnesty is about recognition, reliability, and rebuilding public trust.”
Under the program, unregistered PEMEDES operators can regularize their status without facing past penalties. Legal registration opens access to government training, new technology, better credibility, and inclusion in future initiatives.
By encouraging more delivery workers to register, DICT hopes to make the sector safer, more competitive, and supportive of long-term growth.
Phased rollout begins this year
The rollout will happen in three phases. DICT will start with public consultations and feedback gathering. A digital registration system and nationwide information campaign will follow.
Full implementation is expected by early 2026. Aguda said the program supports the idea of digital bayanihan — a community effort to uplift informal workers and integrate them into the digital economy.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, they kept goods moving when the world stood still,” Aguda said. “Now it’s our turn to deliver by giving them legitimacy, support, and the recognition they’ve long deserved.”
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