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The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations is calling for a coherent freight mobility framework
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This can be achieved via a comprehensive review of national and local policies, the group said
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ACTOO suggests structural reforms, including harmonizing all policies to avoid contradictions in implementation
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They also recommend a review of all implementing rules and guidelines to ensure consistency and rootedness in actual logistics operations
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The declaration of accredited freight trucks as part of critical economic infrastructure and provision of relief measures not only during this time of crisis but for the long term is likewise being pushed
The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO) is calling for a coherent freight mobility framework via a comprehensive review of all national and local policies.
“Trucks are indispensable in the supply chain, delivering essential goods to every corner of society, driving progress, enabling businesses to thrive, and supporting daily life,” ACTOO’s Rina Papa said in a presentation during the recent ASEAN Logistics Summit by the Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia.
“So why are our policies stopping our trucks from moving? Our policies are driven by objectives of traffic management, road infrastructure, revenue generation, regulation and enforcement, environmental considerations, and even aesthetic concerns. Wala po kaming nakitang (We don’t see any) policies na nagsasabing ginawa ito para magkaroon ng (that tell us they were created to achieve) unhampered, unhindered flow of commodities. Wala po kaming nakita na (We don’t see any) policy that would actually enable and strengthen our national supply chain,” Papa stated.
ACTOO noted that while some policies have legitimate goals, they frequently result in regulatory measures—such as truck bans, inconsistent local ordinances, infrastructure limitations, and multiple compliance requirements—that inadvertently disrupt freight mobility and increase logistics costs.
The group suggests the following:
- Adoption of key structural reforms, including harmonizing national and local policies to avoid contradictions in implementation. Part of this is the repeal of policies that hinder or make trucking operations inefficient;
- Review of implementing rules and guidelines to ensure consistency and rootedness in actual logistics operations;
- Adoption of short-term interventions — especially at a time of crisis due to spiralling fuel prices — such as expanding relief programs to truckers, and removal of value-added tax (VAT) on essential inputs directly tied to freight service delivery such as diesel, spare parts, tires, and safety-critical maintenance items;
- Institutionalization of fuel and toll safeguards as well as VAT relief on essential inputs. “Panawagan po namin sa (Our plea on) relief of VAT and excise tax hindi lang sana ngayong (not only now when there’s a) crisis dahil ayan po ay (because that’s) embedded in our cost and so we are asking for a strategic mechanism to provide us relief,” Papa said.
- Automatic activation of relief during fuel spikes, inflation, shocks, or disasters; and
- Declaration of accredited freight trucks as part of critical economic infrastructure. “Burahin na po natin yung istorbo sa daan. Ka-partner niyo po kami sa ating ((Let’s erase the idea that trucks only bring problems on the road. We are your partners in) economic activities,” Papa said.
While the situation calls for ad hoc solutions, Papa said “ad hoc solutions will not enable the sector” so they are also calling for “long-term strategic interventions that would involve economic infrastructure because truckers keep the economy connected.”
With all these recommendations, ACTOO said the expected outcomes include lower freight-cost volatility, and stronger disaster-response logistics.
“Hindi po kami namamalimos (We’re not begging). Truckers are not asking for special treatment but for fair recognition through concrete and institutionalized support. And this should be consistent with the policy logic where the state upholds sectors whose contribution to the society and the economy is fundamental and continuous,” Papa said.
“We are not enemies on the road. We are the engines that move the country forward. It is time to clear policy roadblocks and give the transport backbone the fair conditions it needed to keep the Philippines moving,” she added. – Roumina Pablo
