Over 300 Cordillera truckers enjoy a month of toll fee waiver on major expressways to keep supply of vegetables available - DA-CAR

Benguet, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) has rolled out a temporary toll fee waiver for more than 300 DA-accredited truckers, particularly those transporting agri-fishery supplies across the region, providing much-needed relief amid the ongoing fuel crisis.

The move comes as transport costs in the region continue to rise, with truckers previously paying an estimated P1,500 to P3,000 per trip in toll fees alone when traveling through major expressways connecting Northern Luzon to Metro Manila.

According to data reported by the Philippine Information Agency–CAR, there are over 300 accredited agricultural trucks as of April 22, 2026, including 25 units with existing food pass stickers issued last year.

To ease the burden on transporters, DA-CAR extended support through its FoodLane program—an initiative that ensures the smooth and efficient delivery of vegetables and other agricultural products from the Cordillera to major market areas—by granting temporary toll fee exemptions.

Applications for the toll exemption began on April 19 and took effect on April 20. Approved trucks are issued stickers that allow them to pass through toll gates without paying fees under the temporary program. The exemption will remain valid for one month and may be extended following further evaluation.

Trucks play a vital role in the region’s agriculture and aquaculture sectors, transporting a significant portion of the country’s vegetable supply.

With no other reliable means to move large volumes of goods, increased trucking costs could slow deliveries, potentially causing perishable items such as fish and vegetables to spoil—affecting both farmers’ income and overall market supply.

In this context, the toll fee waiver is expected to significantly help truckers by reducing transportation expenses, which are already elevated due to long-distance travel from mountainous farming areas such as Benguet and Mountain Province to lowland markets.