The Department of Agriculture on Friday thanked operators of various tollways in Luzon for agreeing to provide toll fee discounts to trucks transporting agricultural products.
The Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate initiative, undertaken by DA, Toll Regulatory Board, Department of Finance and Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Manila Cavite Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway, and South Luzon Expressway, effectively exempts DA-accredited truckers from the recent increase in toll fees. The program starts 1 June.
The initiative aims to reduce inflationary pressure on agricultural products, particularly rice, whose elevated cost has kept inflation stubbornly high.
“We’re very happy with the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DoTr to provide toll rebates for truckers. This move should help reduce price pressures on food products and ease the burden on consumers,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.
He said DA continues to look for ways to push down prices of agricultural products, including more support for farmers to increase output at lower cost.
