Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos lauded the mayors of Metro Manila for their unanimous support to the moratorium on pass-through fees collection on national roads and suspension of collection of any form of fees upon all motor vehicles transporting goods or merchandise while passing through any national roads and such other roads not constructed and funded by the local government units.
MMDA Resolution No. 23-15 stated that the Metro Manila Council declares a moratorium on the collection of pass-through fees on national roads and suspension of collection of any form of fees upon all motor vehicles under Sections 153 or 155 of Republic Act No. 7160 in support of Executive Order Number 41 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
“In the interest of public welfare, said LGUs are further strongly urged to suspend or discontinue the collection of fees, such as but not limited to, sticker fees, discharging 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,” said the resolution adapting the EO 41.
Abalos thanked the Metro Manila mayors for “the true spirit of bayanihan” in unanimously suspending their pass-through fees collection.
He said it’s about time to enforce the prohibition of such fees which the DILG has been reiterating since 2006.
The Interior Department since then has issued at least eight memorandum circulars, the most recent of which is DILG MC 2018-133, ordering city governments to ““refrain from enforcing any existing ordinance authorizing the levy of fees and taxes on their interprovince transport of goods and merchandise, regulatory fees in local ports, and other additional taxes, fees or charges in any form upon the transport of goods and merchandise.”
“The suspension of collection of pass-through fees will greatly help our kababayans and their purchasing power will increase.”
“The suspension of collection of pass-through fees will greatly help our kababayans and their purchasing power will increase,” Abalos said.
“Aside from easing the burden of consumers, EO 41 will likewise simplify the farm to market process of goods,” he added.
The DILG, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, shall jointly submit reports to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, on the compliance of LGUs with the foregoing provisions of the EO.
For his part, MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said the moratorium would help temper the inflation rate in the country and would ease the burden of consumers who often bear the brunt of increase in the prices of goods and commodities brought about by the said fees.
“We are one with President Marcos Jr.’s goal to simplify procedures required for transporters to bring produce from farm to market and to mitigate effects of inflation which impacts the public,” he said.
Artes also said that the effects of the resolution supporting EO 41 will be felt in the coming months.
“Perhaps before Christmas, we can feel the impact of the EO since many deliveries will be made.”
“Perhaps before Christmas, we can feel the impact of the EO since many deliveries will be made,” he noted.
“Lalo rin nating mararamdaman ang epekto nito habang dumarami ang sumusuporta sa EO 41 at magsususpinde ng kani-kanilang pass-through fees,” Artes added.
San Juan City Mayor and MMC President Francis Zamora, for his part, said that all the existing ordinances of NCR LGUs collecting such fees would be repealed or suspended.
