A MEASURE seeking a cost-free transport delivery of relief goods to areas declared in a state of calamity has passed the third reading at the House of Representatives.
House Bill 10924, or the Free Transportation of Relief Goods Act, also seeks to require local government unit executives of disaster-hit areas to take charge of distributing these relief goods to remote areas in their localities, as well as the granting of tax incentives to private logistics firms for delivering relief goods free of charge.
“This unanimously approved measure aims to let the government partner with carriers or freight forwarders on the cost-free transport of relief goods to places that have been placed under a state of calamity,” said bill co-author Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte.
Villafuerte added that the bill will enhance the present quick-response mechanisms by ensuring the fast delivery of donated relief items to people in cities and municipalities that are under a state of calamity.
He added that the measure would remove a critical bottleneck in disaster response by eliminating transport costs and streamlining the delivery process to ensure that aid reaches disaster victims on time.
Under the bill, freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, and other firms providing local logistics services shall provide free transport services to duly registered relief organizations in the delivery of emergency relief goods.
Furthermore, the bill mandates the National and Regional Logistics Cluster, led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost), to oversee free transport services by private freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, and other businesses that provide logistics services.
Moreover, the measure states that auxiliary shipping costs, including port and airport charges, are also waived by the concerned port and airport authorities, but container van costs should also be considered to minimize the loss of profits for private logistics companies.
Be the first to comment