Lapid files bill providing free freight services for relief goods

MANILA, Philippines — A bill aiming to provide free freight services to hasten the transport of relief goods and donations to calamity-stricken areas has been filed at the Senate.

Senator Lito Lapid’s Senate Bill No. 1151 or the “Free Relief Goods Transportation Act” bats for free transportation of humanitarian aid to areas hit by disasters.

Lapid pointed out how relief organizations usually shoulder the freight costs of delivering goods to victims of calamities.

“Layunin nating siguraduhin na mas mapapabilis ang pagpapaabot ng tulong sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng bagyo o naging biktima ng iba pang sakuna tulad ng lindol o landslide,” Lapid said Friday in a statement.

(It is our objective to hasten giving help to our countrymen who were victims of typhoons and other disasters like earthquakes and landslides.)

“Kadalasan kasi, ang mga relief agencies pa ang gumagastos para sa paghatid ng mga relief goods sa mga apektado ng kalamidad,” he added.

(Usually, the relief agencies also shoulder the cost of delivering relief goods to those who were affected by calamities.)

The proposed measure mandates the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) and all freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, other companies providing logistics services in the Philippines, to grant free freight services to duly registered relief agencies.

The bill likewise mandates the freight companies to deliver goods and services for free specifically to areas where they operate.

A similar bill authored by San Jose del Monte City Representative Rida Robes has recently been endorsed by the House Committee on Disaster Management.