The Department of Agriculture (DA) is calling on more agricultural transporters to register for its free tollway program, aimed at keeping food supply steady and prices low during the ongoing national energy emergency.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said only 1,162 out of 4,000 registered agri-truckers currently have valid accreditation, limiting access to the benefit. Fully utilized, the program could move up to 16 million kilograms of agricultural goods daily without toll fees.
The toll exemption, offered by private toll operators at no cost to the government, will run until May 20 and may be extended. The DA estimates the program can cut up to ₱6,000 in delivery costs from farms to Metro Manila markets.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiative aims to prevent transport delays that could drive up food prices or cause shortages.
To encourage participation, the DA has simplified registration. Applications can now be approved within the same day, with toll access activated within 24 hours. The system uses digital registration, QR codes, and RFID for faster verification on major expressways.
The program focuses on key agricultural areas in Luzon, including Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the Cordillera. It covers vehicles transporting products such as vegetables, rice, meat, fish, dairy, fertilizers, and farm equipment.
The DA said the initiative complements reduced shipping costs under the Philippine Ports Authority, which earlier lowered Ro-Ro terminal fees for agri cargo vehicles.
Officials are also developing a windshield identifier for accredited trucks, which will help track shipments and may be used for future DA programs.
