The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is pilot-testing the automated processing of the accreditation of port service providers at the port management offices (PMO) of National Capital Region (NCR) South and North, and Batangas.
PPA has started implementing its new Electronic Accreditation System (eAS), an online tool that covers in real time the processing of applications for accreditation and the period of action from the PMO to the PPA head office.
The eAS is being implemented under PPA Operation Memorandum Order (OMO) 01-2019 dated November 14, which prescribes the automated processing of applications for accreditation, covering accreditation rules under PPA Administrative Orders (AOs) 10-2018, 06-2019, and 07-2019.
READ: PPA requires accreditation for all port service providers
PPA accreditation covers the shipping agent; shipping line; transport service/cargo forwarding/freight forwarding/hauling/trucking/shuttling/bus, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) services; and environmental service management, bunkering, booking/ticketing office.
It also encompasses canteen service, cargo checking service, cargo-handling service, cargo surveying service, chandling, cleaning service, engineering contractor, container repair, communication service, equipment hire, equipment repair, fumigation, laundering, lighterage/barging service, mooring/unmooring, passenger terminal service, pilotage service, and port terminal service.
Likewise included are parking/garage service, reproduction service, shop/store, towing/tugging service, vessel repair/maintenance, waste disposal service, water supplier, water taxi, weighbridge/truck scale, and other businesses and services that may be classified by PPA as port service.
The pilot implementation will be monitored for three weeks to determine user engagement and the need to fine-tune application.
Applicants can register via the accreditation website at http://services.ppa.com.ph and fill in the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the fee. The applicant will also have to bring and present the hard copies of the required documents and official receipt to the PMO officer for verification.
According to OMO 01-2019, the prescribed duration from the application for accreditation to approval process and endorsement to the PPA general manager should only run for 11 working days, 2 hours and 20 minutes.
All accreditation certificates must be hand-signed by the PPA general manager.
The approved accreditation certificate will be forwardered from the Office of the General Manager to the Port Operations Services Department for uploading on the eAS database to build up the registry of PPA-accredited port service providers nationwide. The electronic copy of the approved certificate will be available in the system for download.
On December 3, the system will be rolled out to other ports including the PMOs of Mindoro, Marinduque/Quezon, Bataan/Aurora (Limay), Northern Luzon, and Palawan.
Other target dates for the rollout are December 5 for Bohol, Western Leyte/Biliran, and Negros Oriental/Siquijor; and Negros Occidental/Bacolod/Banago/Bredco; December 10 for Panay, Guimaras/Iloilo, Bicol, Masbate, and Eastern Leyte/Samar; December 17 for Surigao, Soccsksargen, Davao, Zamboanga Del Norte, and Ozamis; and December 19 for Agusan, Zamboanga,Lanao del Norte/Iligan, and Cagayan de Oro. – Roumina Pablo