MANILA (UPDATED) — Trucks carrying agricultural goods will be exempt from toll increases starting June 1, 2024 as a way to help curb rising food prices, the Toll Regulatory Board said Thursday. 

In a joint press conference with toll expressway concessionaires and operators, TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo said this would benefit up to 300 agricultural trucks that currently make use of expressways going north and south of Metro Manila every day.

To qualify for the program, truckers must be accredited by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Carullo said Class 1 and Class 2 vehicles may also apply for accreditation.

“Mayroon kasing mga class 1 and class 2 vehicles, ginagamit din as carrier ng agricultural products,” he said.

The exemption covers toll rate hikes implemented starting from June 2023. It shall run for an initial three months, subject to extension.

This will be implemented through a rebate program in collaboration with Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), NLEX (North Luzon Expressway), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).  

That’s why truckers should also have a valid Autosweep and/or Easytrip RFID account so that the rebate can be credited to them as load.

Class 1 and class 2 vehicles like jeepneys may also apply for the program, provided that they also carry agricultural goods.

The toll rebates will vary depending on the entry and exit points.

According to San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which operates SLEX and MCX, this can range from P2 to P30.

For Metro Pacific Tollways, which operates NLEX and SCTEX, class 3 vehicles coming from Balintawak all the way to Subic may enjoy up to P211 in rebates.

But toll operators warned that they will be conducting spot checks and random audits to ensure compliance. Those who are found to be transporting unaccredited goods will be disqualified from the program.

“Hindi naman siya automatic. Magkakaroon po yan ng investigation… Kung meron silang dalang ibang produkto aside from doon sa mga nakalista na legitimate na karga, yun po yung magiging basehan namin para hindi maisama sa programa,” said West Dionisio, the Vice President for Operations of NLEX Corporation.

The toll rate hike exemption is aimed at lowering the cost of transporting agricultural goods to ensure the stability of food prices.   

“The rationale for implementing these measures is to protect the welfare of the general public by preventing second round effects of the toll rate increase on food inflation,” said Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Eufrocinio Bernabe, who was also present during the event.

Inflation in the Philippines rose to 3.8% in April as food prices kept on increasing.

Bernabe also thanked the private sector for its support.

“We are here to support the government’s initiative to bring down inflation, and if this is one way where we can be of service, we do not compute foregone revenue here,” responded SMC Chief Financing Officer Raoul Romulo.