President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reminded local government units (LGUs) to halt the collection of “pass-through fees” from trucks transporting goods, warning that such charges drive up consumer prices as fuel costs continue to rise.
In a video message, Marcos said complaints have reached him that some barangays are still imposing fees on trucks and even on each sack of rice being transported.
“Nakarating sa akin na may ilan pang mga barangay na naniningil pa rito sa bawat sako ng palay at sasakyan. Sana matigil na ito dahil pinapamahal ang presyo ng bilihin,” the President said.
He stressed that these fees are ultimately passed on to consumers, contributing to higher costs of basic commodities.
Marcos added that amid the ongoing crisis driven by rising oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, the government is already implementing measures to ease the burden on the public.
He emphasized the need for LGUs to cooperate with national government efforts to mitigate the impact of increasing fuel costs and help keep prices in check.