306 veggie trucks in Cordillera get toll-free access under DA food lane program
At least 306 vegetable trucks in the Cordillera region have been granted toll-free access to major expressways in northern Luzon, following a government initiative aimed at lowering transport costs for agricultural goods.
According to Janice Agrifino of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service under the Department of Agriculture (DA)–Cordillera, the trucks—ranging from 2 to 20 tons—were registered under the “food lane” program starting April 19.
Agrifino said registration remains open, noting that the directive came from Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help reduce logistics expenses and prevent these costs from being passed on to consumers through higher vegetable prices.
Participating expressways offering toll exemptions include the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and North Luzon Expressway. The toll-free arrangement is set to run for one month.
With the program in place, truckers transporting produce from La Trinidad to Metro Manila can save between PHP1,000 and PHP3,000 per trip.
The initiative followed the President’s visit to vegetable trading hubs in Benguet on April 17, where he assessed challenges faced by farmers and traders, particularly the impact of rising fuel costs.
Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. also met with vegetable industry stakeholders in the Cordillera to discuss solutions to high transportation expenses.
Agrifino clarified that the toll exemption is not limited to vegetable shipments. Trucks carrying fish, livestock, and other agricultural goods, as well as farm inputs, may also benefit from the program.
In addition, the Department of Labor and Employment will provide support to drivers and conductors through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers initiative, while the DA is preparing to roll out fuel assistance for farmers.
NPO News Team - Philippine News Agency - PR
