The approved 8% increase in vessel and cargo-handling rates for Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) will take effect December 28, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
In PPA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 14-2015 dated November 26 and published November 28, the ports authority said “an eight percent upward adjustment for cost-recovery on vessel and cargo charges and other related cargo-handling charges for international containerized and non-containerized cargoes at South Harbor and MICT was approved” by the PPA Executive Committee and Regular Board in a meeting held on November 10.
The approved rate hike is lower than the 9.5% and 14% increases respectively proposed by the two Manila port operators Asian Terminals Inc. and International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
In explaining the rate adjustment, PPA noted that Section 20 of Presidential Decree No. 857 provides that the port authority “may increase or decrease rates and charges for the use of port premises and for services rendered by the Authority or by any private organization within a Port District.”
Under MC 14-2015, PPA’s Commercial Services Department is tasked to make the necessary adjustments to the existing schedule of cargo handling tariff at South Harbor and MICT within 15 days of publication of the circular.
PPA Operations Memorandum Circular 04-2015, which contains the amended schedule, was released on December 9. – Roumina Pablo
