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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session
House Bill Number 1582 
Introduced by REP. JANE T. CASTRO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2024, the World Risk Index has ranked the Philippines as the country with the highest 
Risk Index.  In other words, the Philippines is the country most prone to natural calamities.  We 
are located in the “Pacific Rim of Fire” thus earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are frequent.  As 
a tropical nation, we are also prone to extreme drought, and flooding brought about by typhoons.  
Climate change has also brought more extreme conditions like heat waves, stronger winds, and 
heavier rains. These calamities result in damage to properties and destruction of agricultural 
products, and displacement of residents. 
This bill aims to provide a mechanism to provide free freight services for relief goods to 
calamity-stricken areas.  As supplies of basic necessities like water, food, clothing, and medicines 
are important to these areas, free freight services for relief donations would attract our citizens to 
send supplies for the benefit of the victims. 
Ensuring the survival of the displaced victims is a must during times of emergencies; and 
the best way to ensure their survival is for them to receive relief assistance at the soonest possible 
time.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JANE T. CASTRO 
July 8, 2025
2:34 pm


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session
House Bill Number 1582 
Introduced by REP. JANE T. CASTRO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
FREE 
FREIGHT 
SERVICES 
IN 
THE 
TRANSPORTATION 
OF 
RELIEF 
GOODS 
TO 
CALAMITY-
STRICKEN AREAS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Free Transportation Act 
Relief Goods Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to strengthen the existing quick  
response mechanisms to address the needs of the people during disasters and emergencies. To this 
end, the State shall encourage altruism among the citizens and engage the services of public and 
private common carriers, freight forwarders, freight companies, and other logistics companies to 
collect, sort, store, transport, and deliver relief goods donated by international and local donors to 
areas declared in a “state of calamity” in the most economical, reliable, speedy, and secure manner. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a) Arrastre refers to the fee for handling and hauling cargo at the port. It covers
the cost of unloading cargo from ships, moving it within the port area, and
loading it onto trucks or other means of transportation for further delivery;
(b) Common carriers refer to persons, corporations, firms, or associations engaged
in the business of carrying or transporting passengers or goods, or both, by land,
water, or air, for compensation, offering their services to the public;
(c) Disaster refers to a severe disruption of the functioning of a community or a
society involving widespread human, material, economic, or environmental


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losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or 
society to cope using its own resources; 
(d) Pilotage refers to the services provided by the marine pilot, who is an 
experienced ship captain with in-depth knowledge of a specific port, harbor, 
or navigable waterway; 
(e) Relief refers to interventions to alleviate, ease, or mitigate a distressed or 
critical situation affecting persons, families, groups or communities; 
(f) Relief goods refer to food packs and non-food items such as clothing articles, 
mats, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen wares, water containers, hygiene kits, and 
medical and health-related products to be given directly to the victims of a 
disaster or an emergency; and 
(g) State of calamity refers to a condition involving mass casualties or major 
damages to property and infrastructures such as roads, disruption of means of 
livelihood, and the normal way of life of people in the affected areas due to a 
natural or human- induced hazard. 
 
SEC. 4. Free Freight Services. – The National and Regional Logistics Cluster led by the  
Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) 
and partnership with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC), freight companies, common 
carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, and other companies providing logistic services in the 
Philippines shall provide free freight services 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 of the Philippines or by a local government unit (LGU) through its 
Sanggunian. 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 areas where these entities operate shall be considered when availing of the free freight 
services of common carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, and other logistics companies. 
The shipping auxiliary cost, such as those for arrastre services, pilotage, and other port 
charges, as well as the airport charges, such as those for landing and takeoff fees, aircraft parking, 
navigation charges, and other related airport charges that are routinely passed on to customers, 
shall be waived by the concerned port and airport authorities: Provided, That container van costs, 
turnaround time, and volume of cargo being shipped free of charge shall be considered to minimize 
the loss of profits for the private sector. 
SEC. 5. Vigilance over Relief Goods. – The National and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction 
Management Councils, through their Response Clusters, shall 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 organizations with similar mandates and 
responsibilities. 
 


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SEC. 6. Release of Relief Goods. – The release of donated relief goods and articles intended 
for distribution to areas under a state of calamity shall comply with the existing rules and 
procedures of responsible government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Education, Department of 
Health, LGUs, and other government agencies authorized to distribute the relief goods and articles, 
and in consideration of prevailing policies of freight service and logistics companies and carriers. 
SEC. 7. Tax Deduction. – Common carriers, private carriers, and other logistics companies 
mandated to provide free freight services for the transportation of relief goods under Section 4 of 
this Act shall be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) additional deduction from gross income 
of the amount of the cost incurred for the service provided, including the actual cost of salaries 
and allowances of personnel directly involved in transporting the relief goods, subject to the rules 
and limitations prescribed under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, existing 
laws, rules and regulations: Provided, That to avail of the additional deduction, common carriers, 
private carriers, and other logistics companies shall secure proper certification from the appropriate 
government agency that the expenses claimed as deduction relate specifically to the services for 
the transportation of relief goods as contemplated in this Act. This availment, however, is without 
prejudice to the conduct of post-audit by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. 
The availment of the tax incentives shall bar the concerned common carriers and other 
logistics companies’ availment of any similar incentives granted by other general or special laws, 
rules, or regulations for such freight services. 
 
SEC. 8. Oversight Agencies. – The OCD and the DOTr, through the Civil Aeronautics 
Board (CAB), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and Land Transportation Franchising and 
Regulatory Board (LTFRB), shall monitor and oversee the compliance of freight service 
companies, common and private carriers, and other logistics companies in providing free freight 
services as provided under Section 4 of this Act. 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, the Administrator of OCD shall, in coordination with the heads of CAB, MARINA, 
LTFRB, BOC, PPC, DSWD, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, and the 
association or authorized representatives of freight service companies and freight forwarders, 
common and private carriers, and other companies offering logistics services in the country, issue 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations, 
or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,