PPA waives port fees for local shipping firms

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is waiving the collection of certain port fees to ease the financial burden among local shipping firms.

Beginning Tuesday, December 1, the collection of domestic dockage fee and domestic lay-up or anchorage fee is now waived, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said.

“Ngayon po ang unang araw na magpapatupad ng waiver ng tinatawag pong dockage at anchorage fees po sa mga domestic shipping vessels natin. Applicable po ito sa lahat ng passenger at cargo vessels,” Santiago said during the state-run PTV’s Laging Handa briefing.

“Ang requirement lamang po dito ay kailangan po meron po silang akreditasyon sa Philippine Ports Authority at ito po ay magagamit lamang po sa lahat ng mga pantalan na ino-operate, ina-administer, at may jurisdiction po ang Philippine Ports Authority,” he said.

The waiving of port fees is pursuant to the Republic Act 11494 or Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

To reduce the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local shipping industry, the law provides the amount of P250 million which will be utilized as financial assistance to subsidize the fees to be collected from domestic shipping owners.

To avail of the financial assistance, a shipping firm must be a holder of a valid Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), Provisional Authority (PA), or Special Permit (SP) issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Additionally, shipping companies/operators must be a holder of a valid accreditation certificate issued by PPA.

Shipping companies/operators who have pending applications for accreditation are also eligible, unless otherwise said application has been denied by PPA.

The financial assistance shall also be on a “first come, first served” and per vessel, per transaction basis.

Santiago said shipping forms only need to fill up an application form for accreditation which can be accessed on PPA’s website.

“Kahit walang requirements na ma-submit ay ipo-process pa rin basta mag-fill up ng application form... Ang requirements to follow,” he said,

Meanwhile, the other financial assistance amounting to P270 million allocated for the maritime sector will be utilized to fund the COVID-19 testing of returning Filipino seafarers.

Only inbound or returning Filipino seafarers who have disembarked through Philippine ports and airports are entitled to avail of the free COVID-19 testing, as covered by the Bayanihan 2 fund.

This will be conducted by a service provider to be sourced by the PPA.—AOL, GMA News