The bill mandating local government units (LGUs) to deliver donated relief goods to inaccessible disaster-stricken communities has been passed by the House of Representatives.

House Bill (HB) No. 10924, or the “Free Transportation of Relief Goods Act,” was was passed by a 182-0 vote.

The bill also grants tax incentives to private logistics companies such as freight forwarders and carriers for delivering for free such donated relief goods bound  for calamity-affected communities.

“This unanimously-approved measure aims to let the government partner with carriers or freight forwarders on the cost-free transport of relief goods to places that have been placed under a state of calamity,” said Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, who is president of the National Unity Party (NUP).

“It seeks to enhance the present quick response mechanisms by ensuring the quick delivery of donated relief goods to people in cities and municipalities that have been declared under a state of calamity,” said Villafuerte, co-author of the measure.

The measure also tasks LGU heads to take charge of delivering such items in the remote or unreachable places in their respective localities.

Villafuerte said he is confident the bill will remove a critical bottleneck in disaster response by “eliminating transportation costs and streamlining the delivery process, (to) ensure that aid reaches disaster victims when they need it most.”

Under HB 10294, freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders and other firms providing local logistic services shall provide free transport services to duly registered relief organizations in the delivery of emergency relief goods and donated articles to areas under a state of calamity, as declared by the President or by LGUs, through their respective Sanggunian or legislative councils.

Also under the measure, the National and Regional Logistics Cluster led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost), is tasked to oversee such provision of free transport services to calamity-struck areas by private freight companies, common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders and other  businesses that  provide logistic services.

“When the area of destination is not accessible, the relief goods shall be delivered and consigned to the local chief executive of the nearest LGU,” the bill stated.

The measure also  directs the  National and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (NDRRMCs), through their Response Clusters, to facilitate the speedy movement of people, goods and equipment to the affected population and responding agencies, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, port authorities and concerned organizations.