Revilla wants shipping fees for emergency relief goods waived

Senator Bong Revillia Jr. on Sunday proposed that shipping fees of transport service providers be lifted to ensure adequate and swift delivery of relief goods to calamity-stricken areas.

In a press release, Revilla's office indicated that the senator filed Senate Bill No. 1560, also known as the Relief Goods Free Transportation Act.

It said that the measure seeks to provide free freight services of relief goods to areas declared in a state of calamity by the President or the local government unit (LGU) concerned.

“More often than not, the transport of these goods, despite humanitarian reasons, entail a huge cost,” the senator was quoted as saying, pointing out that the archipelagic nature of the country contributes to difficulties in transporting relief goods.

He also noted that in providing relief assistance to communities heavily affected by disaster, private individuals and companies and non-government organizations play a big part.

“Often, the State is not alone in this endeavor,” he pointed out.

Under the bill, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) and all freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders and other companies providing logistic services are mandated to transport relief goods and donated articles free of charge.

Common carriers, freight forwarders and other similar entities are also mandated to deliver goods and services for free in areas where they operate.

If the area is inaccessible, the relief goods shall be sent or delivered to the nearest LGU and consigned to the concerned local chief executive.

Certain shipping auxiliary cost, such as those for arrastre services, pilotage, and other port charges that are routinely passed on to customers, shall be borne by the concerned arrastre, pilotage, and port authorities, the proposed measure provides.

Moreover, it sates that container van costs, turnaround time, and volume of cargo entitled to the free freight charges shall be considered in order to minimize the loss of profits of the private sector. —LBG, GMA News