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Veggie deliveries to Manila dropped 50%

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 11) — Benguet traders delivering fruits and vegetables to Metro Manila decreased by almost 50% due to the increase in toll fees at the North Luzon Express Way (Nlex).

According to Benguet Truckers and Traders Association (BTTA), out of their 400 members only 208 are delivering Benguet produce to Metro Manila.

BTTA President Benito Hipolito said the 80% increase in toll fees at the North Luzon Express Way ( Nlex) is too expensive for vegetable dealers. He added that the allowable weight load, which is 13.5 metric tons per axle load for delivery trucks, is also minimal. He explained that with the said weight limit, there would be minimal return of investment for traders.

Hipolito asked the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), concessionaire of the Nlex during a talk at the Benguet Forum to grant BTTA a higher toll fee discount, if not a higher load capacity. However, an MNTC representative did not give-in to the said requests.

MNTC Marketing Director Renato Ticzon said that they could no longer afford to give higher discounts. He added that MNTC actually suggested a higher toll fee rate but the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) reduced it to the present rate.

Ticzon further said that if they increased the per axle load limit at the Nlex, the road live up to its seven-year maximum life. This would mean premature repair and rehabilitation of the road, which would cost more, he said. He also said that MNTC does not have any other source of income but from its road-users.

According to BTTA data, the P80 that six-wheeler trucks used to pay increased to P507 and the P120 for ten-wheeler trucks was raised to P609. This means six-wheelers pay a total of P1,014 and ten-wheelers pay P1,218 for tool fees alone in one trip.

BTTA Treasurer Sharmaine Hora said that with the present toll fee rate dealers earn a little over P1,000 for one trip. She added that for ten wheelers dealers spend P10,000 for truck fuel, P1500 for the salary of the driver, P500 for the helper, P1500 for food and the P1218 toll fee, which is equivalent to P14,700 in one trip. She said that with the 13.5 MT per axle load limit, the gross sale of the goods on the average is a little over P16,000.

Hora added that the implementation of the expanded value added tax (E-VAT) means an additional P1,000 for fuel despite the recent roll back in prices of petroleum products. She said that truckers would be forced to increase the prices of their goods and the end consumers would eventually shoulder. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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