TOLL rebates for trucks carrying farm goods will help reduce inflation and ease the price burden for consumers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Under the Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate Program announced by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), on Thursday, DA-accredited truckers will receive rebates for recently implemented toll hikes beginning June 1.

The DA, TRB, Department of Finance and Department of Transportation (DoTr) are collaborating with the operators of the Manila Cavite Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway and the South Luzon Expressway.

The DA said that the initiative aims to lessen prices of agricultural commodities, particularly rice, whose elevated costs have kept inflation high.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said "DA continues to look for ways to push down prices of agricultural products, including more support for farmers to increase output at lower cost."

The TRB said the program would initially run for three months and could be extended. Qualified truckers will receive rebates, equivalent to the recent toll increases, via their RFID (radio frequency identification) accounts.

The DoTr said that an estimated 900 truckers are expected to benefit. The rebates will be credited every Wednesday of the following week.

Spot checks will be carried out to ensure enrolled trucks are transporting agricultural goods and products, and noncompliance may result in disqualification from the program.

The agricultural group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) welcomed the program but also said that "agri-food deliveries should be granted free passes, from LGUs (local government units) ordinances to national toll fees, to minimize logistics cost."

It claimed that some traders were using higher toll fees as an excuse for increasing retail prices.

"We are also requesting for the return of special lanes on expressways, set up during the pandemic, for agri products," Sinag said.

Truckers wanting to avail of the rebates should have valid Autosweep or Easytrip RFID accounts. They will have to register and submit documents such as their DA accreditations and vehicle registrations, among others.

The documents will be verified over seven working days and applicants will be notified of their enrollment status via their registered email addresses.