Highway checkpoints to be dismantled

President Arroyo ordered yesterday the removal of all "checkpoints" in the South Luzon Expressway and other national roads that are not under the supervision of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes.

The President issued this directive after receiving complaints verified by government officials themselves about the alleged extortion and pernicious activities at these checkpoints situated on major highways and roads all over the country.

Mrs. Arroyo expressed confidence that Reyes, her former anti-kidnapping czar, will put an end to the issue once and for all to allow the smooth passage of products and services being delivered from the provinces.

"If Angie Reyes was able to solve kidnapping, he can also solve (problems on) checkpoints. All kinds of checkpoints except the ones that Angie himself sets up," the President said during the two-hour town hall meeting or pulong bayan held at the Ford Group Philippines plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Reyes was among the Cabinet officials present at the meeting.

The President told Reyes the police will have to be relied on "to ensure that there will be no restraint on passage of these vehicles."

Three government officials at the pulong bayan cited widespread complaints from traders over questionable toll fee collections at checkpoints.

Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima, Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and Philippine Export Zone Authority Director-General Lilia de Lima said traders admitted passing on to consumers extra expenses they incur from additional toll exactions on goods they transport to Metro Manila markets from the provinces.

"The cost of transport is rising and it drains our exports because of these checkpoints," Neri told the President.

"Second, our food caravans. The reason why food costs are rising when it arrives in Metro Manila is because of these checkpoints," he added.

The checkpoint complaint was raised to the President by Ed Nicolas, a manager at the Toyota Philippines plant in Laguna and president of the Laguna Chamber of Commerce.

‘Road Users’ Tax’

Nicolas particularly cited the extra tolls and annual P500 per truck in "road users’ tax" being collected at the SLEX by the provincial government of Laguna. This is on top of the toll they pay to the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), which operates the SLEX.

De Lima told the President that delivery trucks were being stopped at the SLEX and other highways to collect these local toll charges.

To which the President replied: "That cannot be. The PNCC has its own police. Do not allow them to stop them (delivery truck drivers)."

Laguna Gov. Ningning Lazaro defended the collection of the annual P500 road users’ tax by virtue of the Local Government Code, which she cited was imposed by the national government.

While she acknowledged the Local Government Code gave local government units (LGUs) taxing powers, the President however fumed over the reported collection of additional toll by the Laguna provincial government on a national road like the SLEX, noting it is maintained by the PNCC.