TOLL operators have agreed to a one-month exemption for trucks carrying agricultural commodities, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Tuesday.
“Yesterday, they agreed to suspend the toll fees on [agricultural] trucks,” he told reporters. At a House of Representatives hearing the night before, Tiu Laurel said that a proposed toll fee suspension would last one month.
He noted that the agreement includes operators of the South Luzon Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway.
“From what I understand, the toll operators that we spoke with will make their announcements today,” Tiu Laurel said.
The Agriculture chief also said that they were working on facilitating the transport of agricultural products as part of efforts to protect the agriculture sector and consumers from rising costs.
“If the rate cannot be reduced, at least give priority to our [agricultural] goods because a truck’s wait to be boarded onto a [roll-on/roll-off ship] also degrades the quality [of produce] and [further increases] losses,” he said.
Among the initiatives already being implemented are fuel subsidies of P5,000 and P3,000 each for farmers and fisherfolk, respectively, and P2,325 in cash assistance under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk program.
The agency also requested that 38 trucks previously granted to farmer cooperatives and associations, and local governments be used to hauling produce from the Cordillera Administrative Region if needed.
Vegetable farmers in Benguet and nearby provinces are struggling with oversupply and weak market absorption. High transport expenses are worsening the situation.
The Agriculture department’s Cordillera office said that at least 590 metric tons of produce urgently need to be moved and that five Kadiwa trucks were already being used for hauling.
GISELLE JORDAN
