The Department of Agriculture (DA) lauded the move by the Luzon tollway operators to implement a toll rebate program for trucks carrying agricultural products.
“We commend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Transportation for their decision to provide toll rebates for truckers,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr.
“This initiative should help stabilize food prices and ease the burden on Filipino consumers,” he said.
The Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate is a collaboration among the DA, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The partners include Manila Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
The rebate program, set for implementation starting June 1, will effectively offset recent toll increases for DA-accredited truckers.
It aims to lessen inflationary pressures on agricultural products, particularly rice, a key contributor to the current high inflation rate. Laurel emphasized the DA’s ongoing efforts to bring down prices of agricultural products and provide more support for farmers to increase production.