PPA to drivers: “Just implementing the rules”

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), managing the main seaport in this capital city, has appealed to the port users that it is just enforcing the rules sanctioned by their superiors in connection with the implementation of administrative fees and other restrictions for security reasons.

PPA manager Manuel Boholano made this clarification on the P12 imposition of fees tricycles entering the port. The agency recently came under fire after announcing it will strictly impose and collect the P12 entry fee to all tricycles ferrying passengers to and from the seaport starting December 1, 2012 and thereafter.

He said that this is being carried out throughout the province and country, without exception. Such imposition in this port has long been overdue since the issuance of administrative Order in 2009.

Under this order, the following are fees imposed to port users: Temporary port user ID/pass, P5; temporary vehicle pass (P10); annual port ID/pass, (P50); annual vehicle stickers/pass for non-cargo vehicle/truck, (P75); and annual vehicle sticker/pass for cargo trucks, (P100). All of which are subject to 12 percent VAT.

The order was signed by PPA general manager Oscar Sevilla, was published in the Philippine Star and took effect on July 22, 2009.

PPA station commander Col Norberto Alfaras said the fee imposition was deferred since 2009 apparently to give ample time for the tricycle drivers to organize to attain legal personality and save fee rather than each one pays every time they enter the port.

He said the advantage of having a tricycle organization is that the group would only pay the annual fee of about P2,000 plus for all its members, who may be provided with the vehicle pass without anymore paying P12 individually. The organization however was not created successfully. (FREEMAN)