Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6) — The Anti-Red Tape Authority wants to suspend the enforcement and collection of fees and taxes by local governments over the inter-province transport of commodities.
This was announced by ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica during Thursday’s Palace briefing, where he talked about the agency’s latest joint memorandum circular (JMC) signed with the Departments of Finance, and the Interior and Local Government
“Ang atin pong JMC ay makakatulong sa ating mga truckers na kadalasan ay nagkakaroon ho ng mga mahahabang pagho-hold ng iba’t-ibang LGUs na kanilang dinadaanan,” said Belgica.
[Translation: Our JMC will help truckers who frequently experience prolonged holding up by different LGUs they pass through.]
Belgica is referring to JMC No. 2021-01, which enjoins local chief executives to refrain from enacting any current ordinance which authorizes the collection of fees and taxes on the transport of goods or merchandise between provinces along with regulatory fees in local ports and charges in any form.
The anti-red tape body inked the circular with the Finance and Interior departments to curb any practices exacting fees and placing stickers on transporting entities for each local government unit they will be passing through.
This will ensure the “unhampered” transport of goods and other pertinent materials especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Belgica said.
Among the fees listed in the JMC are charges for wharfage, tolls for bridges or otherwise, sticker fee, discharging fee, delivery fee, market fee, toll fee, entry fee, and/or mayor’s permit fee, according to the document.
Belgica added that all existing ordinances imposing pass-through fees on goods along with providing for the imposition of taxes, fees and charges in any form on transported items must be suspended, and that LGUs should undergo a “regulatory impact assessment” or RIA.
“Ito po’y kaayon at kaalinsunod rin sa batas po ng Anti-Red Tape Authority na bago para ho kanilang tanggalin at rebisahin,” said the ARTA chief.
[Translation: This (RIA) should be in line and in accordance with the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s new rule before they remove and revise (these ordinances).]
Belgica likewise noted that the latest issuance is “consistent” with the IATF’s long-standing directive that the transport of goods and services amid the health crisis should be unhampered.
“We really do not see that there would be mass resistance diyan pero the ruling out…ay naka-schedule na rin sa pakikipag-usap sa mga iba’t ibang LGUs,” said the official.
[Translation: We really do not see that there would be mass resistance there but the ruling out…is already scheduled with different LGUS.]
