Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Friday met with officials of the Union of Local Authorities of Philippines (ULAP) to discuss collaboration to halt the collection of pass-through fees.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. earlier issued Executive Order (EO) 41 urging local government units (LGUs) to suspend the collection of any form of fees upon all types of vehicles transporting goods under Section 153 or 155 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.
Such fees include sticker fees, discharging fees, delivery fees, market fees, toll fees, entry fees, or Mayor’s Permit fees that are imposed upon all motor vehicles transporting goods and passing through any local public roads constructed and funded by said LGUs.
Abalos urged ULAP president and Quirino Governor Dax Cua and other league officials to encourage their member LGUs to pass resolutions supporting EO 41.
“The DILG recognizes that LGUs are essential partners of the national government in achieving national development goals. We, therefore, urge ULAP to mobilize support for EO 41 to facilitate the seamless flow of goods and services throughout the country,” Abalos said.
“When the national government, the leagues, and the LGUs cooperate and work together, we can face all challenges and we will be more effective and faster in delivering services to our citizens,” he added.
For his part, Cua expressed ULAP’s full commitment to the objectives of EO 41 by passing a resolution calling upon all LGUs to immediately comply with the said directive.
At the same time, Cua said he will ask all LGUs to adhere to the order and enact local ordinances suspending or discontinuing the collection of such fees within their respective jurisdictions.
He said ULAP will foster close collaboration with DILG and other relevant agencies to ensure the effective enforcement of the moratorium on pass-through fees.