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The Department of Agriculture is asking tollway operators to revive the rebate program for trucks transporting agricultural and related products to help ease the impact of rising fuel costs on the farm sector and consumers
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Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. has already reinstated toll rebates across its network – NLEX, Cavitex, and Calax – from October 1 to November 30, 2026
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DA is awaiting confirmation from San Miguel Corp. and the Villar Group
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DA is also updating its registry of eligible agricultural truckers and delivery vehicles
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is asking tollway operators to revive the rebate program for trucks transporting agricultural and related products as the government works to ease the impact of rising fuel costs on the farm sector and consumers.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has already reinstated toll rebates across its network, according to the DA.
Agriculture undersecretary Arrey Perez said they are awaiting confirmation from San Miguel Corp. and other tollway operators, including those affiliated with the Villar group, regarding their participation in the program that waives toll fees for trucks carrying food and farm produce.
San Miguel Corp. operates the Skyway System, South Luzon Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, and the NAIA Expressway. The Villar Group handles the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway.
A one-month toll exemption was implemented from April 20, done through rebates on the accredited truckers’ radio-frequency identification (RFID) accounts.
READ: Vehicles carrying food, agri goods get free pass at expressways
Truckers list
Meanwhile, the DA said it is updating its registry of eligible agricultural truckers and delivery vehicles to ensure rebates go only to qualified beneficiaries.
Perez said operators would need to update their information before the agency cleans up its list and submits the roster of qualified beneficiaries to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
READ: DA steps up accreditation of agri-haulers for free tollway access
The MPTC – through its subsidiaries NLEX Corp., Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., and MPCALA Holdings Inc. – told the TRB in an October 9 letter that it had reinstated the toll rebate program starting October 1 and will be in effect until November 30, 2026.
Rebates for qualified transactions had already been credited to eligible subscribers’ accounts as of October 8.
The program covers eligible trucks and cargo vehicles transporting agricultural products and other goods accredited by the DA.
Qualified vehicles pay the regular toll at the plaza, with rebates subsequently credited to their RFID.
The arrangement provides estimated rebates of 7% to 8%, with credits issued after the transaction period.
Under the published rates, a Class 1 vehicle traveling between Tipo and Balintawak, or vice versa, pays P61 under the rebate arrangement, compared with the regular toll fee of P772. Class 2 vehicles pay P134 instead of P1,745, while Class 3 vehicles pay P184 instead of P2,315.
For the Tarlac-Balintawak route, the rates are P43 for Class 1 vehicles, P99 for Class 2 vehicles and P131 for Class 3 vehicles, compared with regular toll fees of P585, P1,348 and P1,754, respectively.
DA said the rebates are intended to reduce transportation expenses for qualified operators and help ease distribution costs for agricultural commodities. Their impact, however, will depend on eligibility requirements, accurate registration and the timely crediting of rebates.
