House OKs free freight services for relief goods
Credit to Author: Divina Nova Joy Dela Cruz| Date: Thu, 05 Dec 2019 16:49:17 +0000
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the “Relief Goods Free Transportation Act” right after the onslaught of Typhoon “Tisoy” in the country.
House Bill 5070 seeks to provide for free freight cost in the delivery of relief goods to calamity-stricken areas. It was passed with 170 affirmative votes.
The measure aims to ensure the timely delivery of relief assistance to victims of disasters or calamities.
Under the bill, the Office of Civil Defense, in coordination with the Philippine Postal Corp. and all freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders and other companies providing logistic services in the Philippines will provide free freight “to duly registered relief organizations in the transportation of emergency relief goods and donated articles to areas declared to be in a state of calamity by the President or local government unit concerned.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will provide security and traffic management assistance to the response cluster’s operations to ensure the speedy transport of people, goods and equipment to the calamity-stricken communities.
Free freight services for relief goods apply to common carriers or persons, corporations, firms or associations offering their services to the public engaged in the business of carrying or transporting passengers or goods or both by land, water, or air for compensation.
The measure was principally authored by Rep. Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte City’s lone district.
The other authors of the bill are Representatives Lucy Torres Gomez (Fourth District, Leyte), Romeo Momo Sr. (Construction Workers Solidarity party-list), Afred Vargas (Fifth District, Quezon City), John Reynald Tiangco (lone district, Navotas City), Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer (Fourth District, Negros Occidental), Ansarrudin Abdul Malik Adiong (First District, Lanao del Sur), Micaela Violago (Second District, Nueva Ecija) and Vicente Veloso (Third District, Leyte).