RELIEF. Vehicles pass through the Mindanao Avenue Toll Plaza at the North Luzon Expressway in this undated photo. The Department of Agriculture on Friday (May 24, 2024) welcomed the exemption of accredited trucks carrying agricultural products from toll fee increases and the grant of rebates starting June 1, as this will help lower prices of basic goods. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the move to exempt accredited trucks transporting agricultural products from toll fee increases and get rebates, noting that this would benefit consumers through bringing down prices of agricultural commodities.
In a news release on Friday, the DA thanked operators of various tollways in Luzon for agreeing to the agri-trucks toll rebate initiative and providing discounts.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for their decision to provide toll rebates for truckers.
“This move should help reduce price pressures on food products and ease the burden on consumers,” Laurel said.
The Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate initiative is undertaken by the DA, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Department of Finance, and DOTr, in cooperation with the Manila Cavite Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway, and South Luzon Expressway.
It exempts DA-accredited truckers from the recent increase in toll fees starting June 1.
The initiative aims to reduce inflationary pressure on agricultural products, particularly rice.
The TRB said the program will initially run for three months and is subject to evaluation for possible extension.
The rebate is equivalent to the recent enumerated toll increases.
To qualify for the toll fee increase exemption, agri-trucks should be DA-accredited and should have valid Autosweep and/or Easytrip RFID accounts.
Laurel assured that the DA will continuously look for ways to help farmers increase output at lower cost and push down prices of agricultural products. (PNA)
