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published by The Bohol Standard

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) managing major seaports in the province and in this capital city said, it will continue to impose the P12 port access fee for tricycles, as part of enforcing the rules sanctioned by their superiors in connection with the implementation of administrative fees collection.

PPA manager Manuel Boholano made this clarification regarding the PhP12 imposition on tricycles entering the port during the Kapihan sa PIA last Thursday hosted by information manager Rey Anthony Chiu aired over DyTR.

The PPA move in pushing said fee collection came in contrast to the latest news that the Lower House Committee on Transportation approved House Bill 4396 authored by Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), seeking to increase PPA’s capitalization to P50 billion, eyed to bring the agency closer to building more roll on-roll off (roro) and fast craft ports, without imposing added collections to port users. (SEE Separate story)

PPA, recently, is under fire after announcing it will strictly impose and collect the said fee (PP12/ entry) to all tricycles ferrying passengers to the seaport starting December 1, 2012 and thereafter.

Most of public sentiments see the eventuality that drivers will then just pass on to commuters or the riding public the added fee that PPA demanded.

On Friday, Bohol Provincial Administrator Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio II said in the media forum Kita ug ang Gobernador that this recent move of the PPA will have to be closely scrutinized as it will affect many port users, most of them Boholanos, imposed at a critical time that other cost of living have increased.

The matter will be taken up in the meeting of the Provincial Development Council, chaired by Gov. Edgar Chatto, scheduled next week.

CLARIFICATION

PPA clarified though that this imposition of port access fee is being carried out throughout the province and country, no exception. Such imposition in this port has long been overdue since the issuance of administrative Order in 2009.

Boholano cited PPA Administrative Order No. 04-2009 as the basis of the imposition of the said fee. Under this order, the following are fees imposed to port users: Temporary port user ID/pass, P5; temporary vehicle pass, PhP10; annual port ID/pass, PhP50; annual vehicle stickers/pass for non-cargo vehicle/truck, PhP75; and annual vehicle sticker/pass for cargo trucks, PhP100. All of which are subject to 12% VAT. The order signed by General manager Atty. Oscar M. Sevilla was published in the Philippine Star and took effect on July 22, 2009.

LONG OVERDUE

PPA station commander Col Norberto M. 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 everytime they enter the port.

He said that the advantage of being organized is that tricycle organization would only pay the annual fee of about PhP2,000 plus for all its members, who may be provided with the vehicle pass without anymore paying PhP12 individually.

Alfaras lamented that the tricycle drivers failed to do it (organize). They already did but something was mismanaged that it did not last long because of internal squabble, he was told, he said.

Boholano and Alfaras put premium on security of the people and facilities of the port why they should be “strict” and regulate the traffic flow. Both stressed that “no vehicle and/or person shall be allowed to enter the port premises of the PPA unless on legitimate business or purpose related to port operations and with previous/permit/pass issued by the Authority” (refers to PPA).

The order also provides that public utility, such as taxis, PUBs PUJs, and tricycles and pedicabs are only allowed to enter into the designated parking areas “dedicated for their use.”

Port Manager Boholano and the PPA welcomed the separate but similar moves of the city council and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week in passing separate Resolutions appealing to PPA top guns to reconsider or defer the said imposition.

He said that while these (city council and SP) appeals maybe forwarded to their superiors at the Manila central office, the implementation of such port charges collections definitely will push thru, and will start on December 1, 2012. (With reports: RVO)

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