Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan announced that vehicles transporting agricultural and food products will be temporarily exempted from expressway toll fees starting Monday, April 20.

Pangilinan said the measure was made possible through coordination among the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Department of Agriculture (DA), and tollway concessionaires and operators.

“Salamat sa pagtutulungan ng Department of Transportation, Toll Regulatory Board, Department of Agriculture, at ng mga tollway concessionaires at operators, maiibsan nang bahagya ang problema ng mataas na gastos sa pagbyahe ng mga pagkain,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to San Miguel Corp. chief Ramon S. Ang and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. head Manuel V. Pangilinan for supporting his proposal to establish a dedicated food lane.

“Sa panahon ng krisis, walang ibang magtutulungan kundi tayo-tayo rin,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.

“Marami pang kailangang gawin para masiguro ang sapat, abot-kaya, at abot-kamay na masustansyang pagkain para sa lahat ng Pilipino, pero malaking bagay na ito,” he added.

The toll-free policy for food logistics was first raised by Pangilinan during the April 8 Senate committee hearing and later formalized in a letter sent to Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on April 13.

Lopez responded saying the exemption will initially run for one month and may be extended depending on evaluation and further discussions.

To qualify, trucks must comply with existing requirements, including registration with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), accreditation with the DA, and RFID registration.

In addition, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) terminal fees for vehicles carrying raw agricultural goods have been reduced to ₱1 for six months starting April 10, subject to possible extension or revision.

Authorities said eligible cargoes must be properly declared and supported by documentation from the DA or other competent agencies, and will be verified by port officials before entry.

The DOTr said it will continue working with the DA to support the agriculture sector and strengthen the food supply chain amid rising logistics and fuel costs, as well as external pressures such as tensions in the Middle East.

Pangilinan also joined an Agriculture-Agrarian (Agri-Agra) meeting on Thursday with executive and legislative officials focused on stabilizing food supply and reducing transport costs.