Marcos: Pass-through fee suspension eases doing business, lowers transport cost

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Friday that the suspension of "pass-through" fees for vehicles that are transporting goods and merchandise was to make it easier to conduct business and to lower transportation costs.

"Kasi kung dire-diretso 'yung truck na makapunta doon sa pupuntahan niya talaga, eh mas mabilis, ibig sabihin, mas mura ang magiging transportation," Marcos told reporters in Surigao del Norte.

(Because if trucks could go straight towards their destination, the transportation cost would be cheaper.)

"Tapos dahil hindi na tinitigil sa bawat boundary ay mas mabilis na ang pag-daloy (Also, because there are no more stops, the flow of goods will be faster). So, it’s really about the ease of doing business and to simplify again the procedures that are required for the transporter to bring the produce, especially from the farm to the market," he added.

Marcos' Executive Order No. 41 prohibited LGUs from collecting toll fees and charges from motor vehicles transporting goods or merchandise while passing through any national road, as well as other roads not constructed and funded by the LGU.

“In the interest of public welfare, all LGUs are further strongly urged to suspend or discontinue the collection of fees such as, but not limited to, sticker fees, discharging fees, delivery fees, market fees, toll fees, entry fees, or Mayor’s Permit fees, that are imposed upon all motor vehicles transporting goods and passing through any local public roads constructed and funded by said LGUs,” the EO read.

It further noted that the unauthorized imposition of pass-through fees has a significant effect on transportation and logistics costs, which are often passed on to consumers as they bear the burden of paying for the increase in prices of commodities.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government was tasked to secure copies of existing ordinances of all LGUs on the collection of pass-through fees imposed on motor vehicles, including those issued according to Sections 153 and 155 of Republic Act No. 7160, within 30 days from the effectivity of the EO. — DVM, GMA Integrated News