Several government agencies in collaboration with two major toll expressway operators are set to implement a toll rebate for agricultural trucks starting on June 1 to help reduce the impact of recent increases on the prices of food.
This is part of the toll rebate program launched yesterday by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) together with the Department of Finance, Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Initially, the scheme will last 90 days or until August but is subject to evaluation for possible extension.
The program allows DA-accredited truckers transporting agricultural goods/products to receive toll rebates equivalent to the recent enumerated toll increases.
For North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the toll rebate includes P16 for open system, P81 from Balintawak to Sta. Ines, P211 from Balintawak to Subic and P156 from Balintawak to Tarlac.
The toll rebate for the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) is P4 for Parañaque City and P25 for Kawit, Cavite.
Meanwhile, the toll rebate at the South Luzon Expressway, Skyway and Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway ranges from P2 to P30 per truck, according to San Miguel Corp.
“This program aims to protect the welfare of the general public by minimizing the impact of toll rate increase on the overall inflationary situation to ensure the stability of food prices. The TRB, together with the different government agencies, acknowledges the toll expressway concessionaires and operators for their full support and cooperation as this will not be possible if they did not agree to implement this exemption,” said Alvin Carullo, TRB executive director, in a press conference yesterday.
Carullo said an estimated 900 trucks passing through the expressways are expected to benefit from the program.
To qualify for the toll fee increase exemption, agri-trucks should be accredited by the DA and should have a valid Autosweep and/or Easytrip RFID. Submitted documents will undergo a verification process within seven working days.
Enrollees will be notified of their enrollment status via their registered email addresses.
Once approved, agri-truckers will enjoy a toll rebate that will be credited to their RFID accounts every Wednesday of the following week. As part of monitoring and to prevent abuse, spot checks will be conducted to ensure that enrolled trucks are transporting agricultural goods/products.
Non-compliance may result in disqualification from the program.
