THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has issued an order prohibiting the imposition or collection of additional port charges and fees, including hazard fee, in the delivery of port services.
In a notice to all port stakeholders, PPA said it has not granted any increase and additional port fees, cargo handling, pilotage, terminal and miscellaneous charges, including hazard fee, in its official port tariff following the Luzon-wide enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
PPA issued the notice after the Quezon Harbor Pilots Association Inc., based in Lucena City, released an open letter stating that it will be collecting P60,000 as additional pilots’ health hazard fee for every vessel that they will be assisting in Quezon ports.
In their letter dated March 23, 2020, the pilots’ association said that, as they are considered as “frontliners” in the port’s operation, pilots are exposed to the threat of COVID-19.
The pilots’ association added the collection of the additional pilots’ health hazard fee follows the recent announcement of President Duterte that all frontline personnel are entitled to receive hazard pay amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PPA clarified neither its office nor its board has granted the authority to impose additional charges or fees to any terminal operator, cargo handling operator, pilots and pilots’ associations, private port operators, and port service providers, including the Quezon Harbor Pilots Association.
Jay Daniel Santiago, PPA general manager, said that while the agency values the service given by workers at the country’s various ports amid the threat of the deadly coronavirus, the hazard pay of pilots should not be shouldered by those who are also being affected by COVID-19 and by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
The PPA likewise directed all port managers to monitor the strict compliance of the issued notice and immediately stop the collection of unauthorized additional fees. All port stakeholders are also instructed to report any violation of the order.
