PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of “pass-through fees” for vehicles transporting goods or merchandise to ensure the efficient movement of goods across regions.
Marcos issued Executive Order No. 41, which prohibits local government units (LGUs) from collecting fees, including but not limited to sticker fees, discharging fees, delivery fees, market fees, toll fees, entry fees, and Mayor's Permit fees, from delivery vehicles using national roads and roads not funded by the respective LGUs.
“The unauthorized imposition of pass-through fees has a significant impact on transportation and logistics costs, which are often passed on to consumers, who ultimately bear the burden of paying for the increase in prices of goods and commodities,” EO 41 read.
“In order to uphold the welfare and advance the best interest of the Filipino people, it is the overarching policy of the Administration to consolidate all essential components within the value and supply chain, and reduce the costs of food logistics, which play a pivotal role in effectively tempering the inflation rate in the country,” it added.
Marcos ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to impose disciplinary actions against public officials or employees who will not comply with EO 41.
The DILG, along with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Anti-Red Tape Authority, and Department of Finance, is tasked with issuing necessary guidelines and amending or consolidating existing rules, regulations, or issuances to ensure the effective implementation of the order."
In a forum, the DTI welcomed the order or the President, noting that issues regarding pass-through fees have been going on since 2006, and it was only this year that it was finally addressed.
“So that, at the end of the day, when the product reaches them, goods and even services mababa po, kahit papaano ay kaya pa po nila – affordable and kung hindi man po bumaba ay hindi naman po tataas,” DTI Undersecretary for Communications Kim D. Lokin said.
(So that, at the end of the day, when the product reaches them, goods and even services are reasonably priced, and if they don't decrease, at least they won't increase.)
“In general, marami po ang natutuwa. I’m sure, hindi lang po iyong mga negosyante. At the end of the day, ang mga consumers po ay matutuwa dito lalo na po dahil malapit na ang Pasko,” she said.
(In general, many are delighted. I'm sure it's not just the business owners. At the end of the day, consumers will also be pleased with this, especially since Christmas is approaching.)
Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organization Vice President Rina Papa expressed gratitude to Marcos for issuing such an order.
Papa cited the City of Manila’s imposition of road user’s taxes, which she said costs truckers from P2,000 to 2,500 per truck each month or P30,000 per year which serves as additional logistics cost to truckers, further noting that it’s a burden to truckers because the two major international ports are located in Manila.
Lokin said the City Government of Manila has already issued notice in support of EO 41.
“Napakalaking bagay po nito and we hope and we encourage and we urge the other LGUs na sana po ay tingnan po nila this way ang EO 41 na ito,” Lokin said.
(This is a significant matter, and we hope, encourage, and urge other LGUs to consider EO 41 in the same way.)
“Kasi kung ang City of Manila po kung saan nanggagaling iyong port at nandodoon ang karamihan ng mga trucks na dumadaan araw-araw ay makakapag-isyu po ng ganitong bagay ay sana po iyong iba rin po nating mga LGUs would follow suit,” she added.
(Because if the City of Manila, where the port is located, and where most of the trucks pass through daily, can issue such a directive, we hope that our other LGUs will follow suit.) (SunStar Philippines)
