CPA defers increase in cargo handling fees

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Port Authority has deferred the implementation of five percent increase in cargo handling charges for foreign cargoes up to October 1, 2021 following the approval and issuance of CPA Resolution No. 833-2020 by the Cebu Port Commission (CPC).

CPA general manager Leonilo Miole said that deferment of the increase is in accordance with the present mandate of the government to help reduce the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the business sector which will redound to the benefit of the Filipinos.

“The deferment of the increase is one of the initiatives and interventions of the CPA with our partner cargo handling service provider, Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) to help aid the income losses due to the operational and travel restrictions brought by COVID-19 to the maritime sector. This is good news for all our shipping liners, exporters, importers, logistics providers and other port stakeholders,” said Miole in a statement.

It can be recalled that a 10 percent across-the-board increase in foreign cargo-handling tariff (excluding for cement, iron, and steel products) in the Port of Cebu was approved in September 2019 under CPA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 12-2019 dated September 27, 2020 and signed by Miole.

The first tranche in the 10 percent increase was implemented in October 2019 while the second tranche is supposed to be implemented this October 19, 2020.

As of August 2020, all ports managed by the CPA in the province handled a total of 39,209,491 metric tons (MMT) of cargoes, 23.45 percent or 9,214,442 metric tons (MMT) of it are foreign cargoes. — GMR (FREEMAN)