SP backs EO against pass-through fees

TO reduce the cost of food logistics and to mitigate inflation, the 20th City, Council during its regular session presided over by City Vice Mayor Bebot B. Rodriguez, expressed unequivocal support for Executive Order No. 41 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

The EO, being a pillar of the president’s 8-point socio-economic agenda, prohibits the collection of pass-through fees on national roads and suspends the collection of any form of fees for all types of vehicles transporting goods, resulting in the efficient movement of goods across the regions. 

Furthermore, the EO mandates the Department of Interior and Local Government to ensure that the LGUs act within the scope of their prescribed authorities under Sections No. 153, and 155 of the Republic Act No 7160 or the Local Government Code.

Section 153 of RA 7160, allows LGUs to impose and collect reasonable fees and charges for services rendered, while Section 155 authorizes local sanggunians to prescribe the terms and conditions and fix the rates for the imposition of toll fees or charges for the use of any public road, pier or wharf, waterway, bridge, ferry, or telecommunications system funded and constructed by the LGUs.

The legislation was sponsored by the Committees on Public Utilities (Roads and Traffic Management), and on Laws and Rules chaired by Councilors Romeo V. Calizo and Edgar S. Cabanlas, respectively.