Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Friday declared a moratorium on the collection of pass-through and other fees imposed on all vehicles transporting goods and merchandise.
Metro Manila mayors issued the moratorium in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s executive order which bans local government units (LGUs) from collecting pass through fees.
The move seeks to lower prices of basic commodities by removing added transportation and logistics costs which are passed on to consumers.
“Pagtaas ng (presyo) mga bilihin talaga ang pinaka-affected parati ang Metro Manila dahil ita-transport ‘yan galing Manila eh ang agricultural products kaya sa pagtanggal ng passing through fees na ito malaking bagay sa pag-mura ng bilihin,” Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos said.
[Translation: An increase in the (price) of goods really affects Metro Manila because the agricultural products will be transported from Manila, so the removal of passing through fees is a big deal in lowering the price of goods.]
Pass through fees include mayor’s permit, sticker, and market fees.
According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the authority of LGUs to collect such fees is provided for in the Local Government Code.
Abalos is also talking to LGUs outside the capital region to urge them to suspend the pass-through fees as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified that only two cities in the metro—Manila and Caloocan—imposed pass-through fees.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the impact on prices of commodities may be felt in the next few months.
“Lalong lalo na bago mag-Pasko alam naman natin maraming deliveries na mangyayari dahil mabilis ang komersyo,” Artes said.
[Translation: Especially before Christmas, we know that there will be many deliveries because business is fast.]
