The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is set to start reviewing its operation in compliance with the directive to reduce logistics and travel costs.
Among the areas being considered for review are statutory and regulatory costs being levied by the PPA as well as indirect costs related to the efficiency and productivity of the ports.
Manuel Boholano, PPA officer-in-charge general manager, said in a statement he has reported the initiative to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista in their recent meeting.
“Our first order of business is to comply with the directive of the DOTr to lower travel and shipping costs,” Boholano said in his speech at PPA’s 48th founding anniversary.
PPA is also set to make representations with other maritime government agencies, shipping line operators and other port stakeholders to discuss the efficient utilization of facilities particularly in high-volume ports like those in Manila, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, among others, which are considered gateway ports.
PPA said it is also accelerating the digitalization of its processes like the internet-based port operations and receipting for terminals system, e-permit management system, transport accreditation, and permits and pass for ports.
The agency added it is interconnecting with other government agencies to facilitate the movement of cargoes and turnaround time of vessels for faster delivery of raw materials for shippers and businesses, resulting in lower overheads and quicker travel time for regular passengers and tourists.
PPA also said it will continue the existing policies being implemented like the exemptions of students, senior citizens, differently-abled persons, uniformed personnel and Medal of Valor awardees and their first-degree kin in the payment of passenger terminal fees in all PPA-controlled ports.
Since it was first implemented prior to the pandemic, the free terminal fee is equivalent to a benefit of close to a P7-million monthly average.
“This is a challenge that we gladly take, so let us start looking into this directive,” Boholano stressed.
