Starting January 1, 2020, terminal operators may no longer collect weighing fee on domestic outbound laden containers and roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) cargoes, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 05-2019 dated July 8 and effective July 29, is in keeping with PPA Board Resolution No. 2814 and amends AO 06-2011, which provides guidelines for imposing the weighing rate on containers and Ro-Ro cargoes.
Under AO 05-2019, a weighing fee shall not be imposed on domestic outbound laden containers and all Ro-Ro vehicle types 3 and 4, provided such vehicles are registered for commercial purposes and loaded with commercial cargo.
Type 3 vehicles are light delivery truck vans, pickup trucks, and public utility jeepneys, while type 4 are stake trucks, heavy delivery trucks, passenger/tourist buses, prime mover tractor heads with or without trailer/chassis, and 10-wheelers.
PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago, in a recent interview with media, said weighing cargoes is part of what a terminal operator does. “Pag nag-cargo handling ka, gumamit ka ng forklift [When you handle cargo, you use forklift] you do not charge forklift fees. You just do your service. Ito ang trabaho mo [Your job] is to load up the Ro-Ro, why will you charge the equipment to load up the Ro-Ro? You charge them for marshalling, di ba kasama yun dun [isn’t that part of the service?]” Santiago explained.
While the weighing fee will no longer be imposed, PPA ordered that 100% mandatory weighing be enforced on all domestic outbound laden containers and Ro-Ro vehicles.
All Ro-Ro cargo, including vehicles which exceed the allowable maximum gross weight upon weighing in at the port, will not be allowed to board unless its weight is reduced to the allowable limit.
All Ro-Ro vehicles which have a registered fixed weight and have no loaded commercial cargo and empty containers which should be opened for inspection shall be exempt from weighing.
Santiago said terminal operators have until December 31, 2019 to collect the weighing fee and prepare their weighing equipment to comply with AO 05-2019.
He noted that the port authority has identified about 45 ports that need weigh bridges, projects for which will be bidded out or procured by PPA. – Roumina Pablo
