Public utility vehicles (PUVs), public utility buses (PUBs), and vehicles involved in freight services will receive temporary toll discounts on major tollways starting March 23, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced.

The move comes in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ease the impact of rising fuel prices on the transport sector amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Jay Art Tugade said that tollway concessionaires and operators have voluntarily agreed to implement temporary discounts for essential transport sectors.

The toll adjustments cover Class 1 PUVs such as jeepneys, Class 2 PUBs, and Class 3 vehicles engaged in freight and logistics services, including those transporting essential goods.

Secretary Lopez said the toll relief will provide significant support to drivers, commuters, and consumers by helping stabilize fares and the cost of goods.

The discount program will initially run for two months and may be extended after review. Under the revised rates, Class 1 vehicles could save up to Php18 per end-to-end trip, while Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles may save as much as Php47 and Php72 per trip, respectively.

Eligible vehicles will receive the toll discounts through weekly rebates credited by the concessionaires.