DA pushes toll rebates for agri trucks
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for more tollway operators to join its rebate program for trucks carrying farm products to help cut transport costs and ease food inflation amid rising fuel prices.
Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey Perez said the agency is awaiting confirmation from San Miguel Corp. and other tollway operators, including those linked to the Villar group, on their participation.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), meanwhile, has reinstated toll rebates across its network effective Oct. 1 until Nov. 30, 2026.
The program covers qualified trucks and cargo vehicles transporting agricultural products and other goods accredited by the DA.
Instead of getting an upfront discount at toll plazas, eligible vehicles pay the regular toll, with rebates later credited to their radio frequency identification (RFID) accounts.
MPTC, through NLEX Corp., Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and MPCALA Holdings Inc., confirmed the rebate program’s reinstatement in an Oct. 9 letter to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). Rebates for qualified transactions were already being credited to eligible accounts as of Oct. 8.
Perez said the DA is updating its registry of qualified agricultural truckers and delivery vehicles to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive the rebates. Tollway operators must also update their records before the agency submits the verified list to the TRB.
Under the published rates, qualified vehicles can receive substantial toll savings on major routes. For the Tipo-Balintawak route, the listed rates under the rebate arrangement are ₱61 for Class 1, ₱134 for Class 2 and ₱184 for Class 3 vehicles, compared with regular toll fees of ₱772, ₱1,745 and ₱2,315, respectively.
For the Tarlac-Balintawak route, the corresponding rates are ₱43, ₱99 and ₱131, compared with regular fees of ₱585, ₱1,348 and ₱1,754.
The DA hopes wider participation from tollway operators will help reduce delivery expenses and ease pressure on food prices.
However, MPTC has raised concerns over the financial impact of toll discounts and exemptions on revenues, operations and investment commitments under its concession agreements. The company said it joined the program in support of the government’s efforts to address rising fuel costs while reserving its contractual rights.
The DA, together with the Department of Transportation and the TRB, first approached tollway operators in September to seek toll relief for agricultural truckers.
“DA sought toll discounts for agri truckers to help curb food inflation,” Perez said
