MMDA chair Romando Artes (PNA photo by Joey Razon)
MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has issued a resolution declaring a moratorium on the collection of pass-through fees on national roads and any form of fees for motor vehicles transporting goods.
Under Resolution No. 23-15, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA, said the move is in support of Executive Order No. 41, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last month, which would help lower the prices of goods.
The EO ordered the local government units to suspend the collection of pass-through fees to ensure the efficient movement of goods across regions.
“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,” the resolution read.
MMDA acting chair Don Artes said the moratorium would help temper the inflation rate and ease the burden of consumers with the increase in prices of goods.
“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 in a press briefing.
"Perhaps before Christmas, we can feel the impact of the EO since many deliveries will be made."
San Juan City Mayor and MMC president Francis Zamora said existing ordinances of LGUs in the National Capital Region collecting such fees would be repealed or suspended.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, who was also at the press briefing, thanked the Metro Manila mayors for "the true spirit of bayanihan" in unanimously suspending their pass-through fees collection. (PNA)
