By Betheena Unite
Imposing of additional port fees and other miscellaneous charges during the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon is prohibited, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.
Philippine Ports Authority (MANILA BULLETIN)
All shipping companies, terminal operators, cargo handling operators, pilots and pilots associations, private ports and port service providers, and port managers were told Wednesday that the PPA “has not granted any increase and additional port fees.”
According to General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, the PPA has not not authorized the imposition of additional fees like cargo handling, pilotage, terminal, and miscellaneous charges, including hazard fees, in its official port tariff.
“Neither has PPA and its Board granted such authority to impose additional charge or fee to any terminal operator, cargo handling operator, Pilots and Pilotage Association, Private Port Operator and other Port Service Providers,” Santiago said in a memorandum issued on Wednesday.
All port manager were directed to monitor compliance and to “immediately stop and report any violation.”
Santiago earlier explained that the PPA allows all cargo owners to withdraw or deposit cargoes normally despite the observance of enhanced community quarantine measures.
“The new guidelines require only the presentation of any of the existing transport documents such as Bill of Lading, Waybills or any related documents to the concerned inspecting/validating officers and which shall serve as their entry/exit documents,” Santiago said, citing a memorandum that no longer requires cargo owners and logistics service providers to secure a cargo entry/withdrawal permit (CEWP) from PPA or port terminal operators.