Marcos OKs toll-free pass for Benguet veggie trucks
LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET—Truckers delivering Benguet-grown salad vegetables to Metro Manila and other Luzon markets will be allowed toll-free passage on major expressways, President Marcos announced on Friday, as part of efforts to safeguard food security amid economic disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Marcos also rolled out a series of assistance measures for highland farmers after visiting Benguet’s major trading hubs, where he met with stakeholders to assess the impact of rising fuel costs and declining demand.
Iran’s ongoing conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade have disrupted oil supply, pushing diesel above P100 per liter and raising transport costs in the Cordillera, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Benguet supplies about 80 percent of Luzon’s temperate vegetables and produces an average of 1.1 million metric tons (MT) annually.
Distribution
During his visit, Marcos toured the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post and the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center, where he bought 12 MT of vegetables for distribution to poor communities and jails in Metro Manila.
The state-owned Food Terminal Inc. also procured vegetables to support farmers.
Tiu Laurel said consultations with farmers highlighted high freight costs and low farmgate prices due to reduced orders from traditional buyers trying to cut expenses.
He noted that toll exemptions could save truckers between P1,000 and P3,000 per trip, depending on vehicle size. Operators of the North Luzon Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and South Luzon Expressway have agreed to provide free passage to Department of Agriculture-registered food trucks.
Fuel vouchers equivalent to P10 per liter will also be extended to truckers, with allocations to be based on freight volume.
To help farmers cope with the expected impact of El Niño, Marcos said they would also benefit from 30-day cash-for-work assistance under the government livelihood aid called Tupad Program.
These grants may be used for land preparation, canal cleanup and construction of small water impounding systems, alongside government support for seeds and fertilizers.
During the visit, 46 farmer cooperative associations received P15.4 million worth of farm inputs, including fertilizers, hand tractors and grass cutters, according to the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera.
Marcos also approved the establishment of a processing facility equipped with freezers and dehydrators at Benguet State University. The facility aims to reduce postharvest losses by processing surplus carrots, bell peppers and other perishable crops.
“We are doing this to ensure a stable food supply, ease the burden on farmers and producers and prevent disruptions that could lead to higher food prices,” the President said.
