Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured the 'immediate' effect of the free toll assistance program on retail prices of agricultural commodities despite the energy emergency in the Philippines. This comes as the DA, in partnership with tollway companies, activated on April 20 the food lane under the month-long free toll program for vehicles carrying agricultural seeds and crops, livestock and fish products, fertilizers and pesticides, as well as farm machinery.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa stated in a press conference that the free toll initiative would help reduce transport costs for agricultural truckers. 'Ang epekto nito ay immediate. Kasi nagsimula ng Lunes, nabawasan ang gastusin nila. Dapat magre-reflect ito kasi ang gastusin ng transportation forms part ng presyuhan na binibili sa palengke (Its effect is immediate. It began on Monday; their expenses have been slashed. It should reflect because transportation forms part of the pricing in the retail markets),' he said.
Earlier, the DA projected PHP2 to PHP5 per kg. potential price spikes in agricultural commodities due to the effects of recent fuel price surges. With the food lane in place, however, up to PHP152 million in savings is projected to be generated from the toll exemption. This translates to PHP1,500 to PHP3,000 savings per trip for accredited trucks from Northern Luzon to Metro Manila, and PHP6,000 from north to south Luzon. 'Kapag nabawas ito, dapat mararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan kapag namili sa palengke na may bawas doon sa presyo ng kanilang bibilhin (When this cost is reduced, our fellow Filipinos must feel a reduction in the prices of their purchase),' De Mesa said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that the food lane would help ensure stable supply chains despite rising fuel price risks. 'This is about keeping food moving when energy shocks threaten to slow everything down. Every delay in transport translates to higher costs and potential shortages. We cannot allow that,' he stated in a separate statement.
About 1,162 truckers in Luzon have valid accreditation, which can transport up to seven million kg. of agricultural commodities daily. The agency urged truckers in Luzon to secure their DA accreditation to further scale up the impact of the free toll program. DA Undersecretary for Agro-Marine Industrial System Arrey Perez mentioned that they are targeting to cover more than 4,000 agricultural truckers who were accredited during the health pandemic.
'Pinadali namin 'yung proseso, dinagdagan namin 'yung mga entitled, at gusto namin na lumaki yung population registered sa programa na ito para mas maramdaman ng Pilipino (We have streamlined the process, increased the entitled, and we wanted to scale up the registered population under the program so it can be felt even more by Filipinos),' he said. Within 24 hours, applicants can have an activated account by securing an application form, a DA accreditation certificate, and an Easytrip or Autosweep RFID.
The DA has expanded its allowed vehicles under Classifications 1, 2, and 3. Should the DA meet its target of at least 4,000 truckers, an estimated 16 million kg. of agricultural commodities across Luzon can be moved under the free toll program. The program is part of the whole-of-nation approach in partnership with the private sector, with no expense or subsidy shouldered by the government.
Covered in the program are major tollways, including the Tarlac-Pangasinan Expressway (TPLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and connectors, Skyway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), Cavite-Laguna South Luzon Expressway, and Star Tollway. Besides the free toll, the DA has also secured the Piso Ro-Ro terminal fee (RRTF) for agricultural truckers in partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority. Extensions for these programs are possible, subject to the stakeholders' approval, considering developments in global oil price movements due to the tensions in the Middle East.
