Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago ordered on Wednesday, June 5, all officials to conduct aggressive operations to sweep all ports across the country with fixers victimizing vehicle owners and other passengers.
Citing reports on the ground, Santiago said fixers are charging additional fees for passengers and at least P1,000 from motor vehicle owners for priority boarding in passenger vessels in Lucena City.
“This is unfair and unacceptable. We have proper and systematic ways in all our ports for the passengers so fixers have no place in all our ports,” said Santiago.
“I urge all the passengers not to entertain and even report the presence of these fixers because instead of helping you, they will just take advantage of your hard-earned money,” he added.
In order to weed out all ports with fixers, Santiago said all port managers should come up with measures in running after them, including barring them in all port premises.
He said an investigation was immediately conducted and based on the initial result, the reported fixing activities are not true.
Nevertheless, Santiago said port managers should take the initiative of stepping up the measures in their respective areas of responsibility.