Local
truckers to hike rates by 20% starting June 16
THE Confederation of Truckers Association of the
Philippines (CTAP) will increase by 20% its handling
rates for containerized cargoes from the ports of
Manila to selected points effective June 16, 2004.
In a telephone interview with PortCalls, CTAP president
Rodolfo T. De Ocampo confirmed the group's plan, prompted
primarily by the continuous increase in fuel prices.
De Ocampo noted that the price of diesel has, in the
recent past, gone up 46% from P13 to P19 per liter.
"Our businesses have been heavily affected by the
fuel price increase. It has been a long time since
we last hiked our rates. We cannot bear the cost any
longer," he complained, adding that fuel normally
comprises 40% of a trucker's overhead cost. CTAP member
companies account for 40% of the local trucking industry.
In addition, De Ocampo said rates had to be revised
because of higher prices of spare parts, tires, batteries
and lubrication oil due to the peso depreciation,
and the truck ban and regulatory fee/road users' tax
imposed by various local government units.
Next week's hike is also in response to higher fees
expected to be imposed by tollway companies. The Metro
Manila Toll Corp., for one, is jacking up its fees
by October. De Ocampo said that as it is, all other
modes of transportation have already firmed up plans
to increase their rates. Minimum bus rates will go
up 50% to P6 from P4, and jeepney fare by 37.5% to
P5.50 from P4.
The new CTAP rates for a twenty-footer (TEU) from
the MICT or South Harbor to some points in Manila,
including Intramuros, Binondo, Ermita, Malate, Sta.
Cruz, Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana and Sampaloc, range from
P3,600 to P4,400. The trucking rate for forty-footers
(FEU) is between P4,200 and P5,000. To specific points
in Bulacan, CTAP members will charge P6,600 to P9,200
for every TEU and from P7,400 to P10,000 for every
FEU.
The rates exclude project cargo/container with overwidth/overheight
load which requires special handling and special equipment,
chassis rental and bobtail and/or advance positioning
of containers, CTAP said.
Confederation of Truckers
Association of the Philippines
Prescribed rates for containerized
cargoes effective June 16, 2004 from MICT /
South Harbor to following destinations:
METRO MANILA
20 FOOTER
40 FOOTER
MANILA
Port Area, Intramuros, Binondo & Tondo
3,600.00
4,200.00
Ermita, Malate, Sta. Cruz & Quiapo
3,800.00
4,400.00
Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana, Sampaloc & other points
within Manila
4,400.00
5,000.00
QUEZON CITY
Points not going beyond Edsa
4,800.00
5,400.00
Points beyond EDSA
5,600.00
6,200.00
CALOOCAN CITY
Points not going beyond Edsa
4,200.00
4,800.00
Points beyond EDSA
4,800.00
5,400.00
Caloocan North (Tala)
6,200.00
6,800.00
NAVOTAS & MALABON
4,200.00
4,800.00
VALENZUELA
5,800.00
6,300.00
MAKATI & MANDALUYONG
Points not going beyond EDSA
5,300.00
5,900.00
Points beyond EDSA
5,900.00
6,500.00
SAN JUAN
5,300.00
5,900.00
MARIKINA, PASIG, PATEROS, TAGUIG & PARANAQUE
5,900.00
6,500.00
LAS PINAS & MUNTINLUPA
6,600.00
7,200.00
NORTHERN LUZON
BULACAN
Meycauayan & Balagtas
6,600.00
7,400.00
Malolos
7,300.00
8,200.00
Calumpit & Plaridel
7,900.00
8,700.00
Angat & San Ildefonso
9,000.00
9,800.00
Norzagaray & San Miguel
9,200.00
10,000.00
PAMPANGA
Apalit
7,900.00
8,700.00
Macabebe, Masantol, Sto. Tomas, Minalin,
San Fernando
8,500.00
9,500.00
San Simon & Mexico
Candaba, Bacolor, Guagua, Sta. Rita, San
Luis & Sta. Ana
EXPORTS from the Subic Freeport rose
79% in April to roughly $90 million from P50 million
during the same month last year, according to the
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
SBMA chairman Felicito Payumo said the
strong growth in April further boosted SBMA's export
for the first four months of the year by 30.4% to
$300 million from $230 million. The increase was largely
attributed to recovery of global demand for computers
and other electronic products. High value-added products,
including processed foods, high-end garments, jewelry
and aircraft production, also contributed to the growth.
Payumo said the freeport's major exporter,
Wistron Infocomm, contributed $225 million in exports
receipts for the first four months, up 53% from last
year's $147 million. Wistron manufactures laptop computers,
motherboards, and peripherals, fax machines, integrated
circuits, microelectronic and software for brands
like Acer, IBM and Hitachi.
Payumo expressed optimism that the
freeport will continue to handle improved export traffic
in the coming months with strong contribution from
top companies like Wistron, Omron Corp., Juken Sangyo
(Philippines) and Sanyo Deiki.
CAB
prepares aviation sector for ASEAN call for liberalization
THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said
recently the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) has reiterated its bid for "greater liberalization"
in the aviation industry.
CAB Deputy Director Carmelo Arcilla
said the board would convene various airline stakeholders
and the Philippine air panel for the purpose. Arcilla
noted the ASEAN is building a "Unified Negotiating
Framework" for the "ASEAN integration" of 11 sectors,
including the air sector. "We had a meeting late last
month at the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC) is being asked to provide input
and a timetable for purposes of liberalization," Arcilla
said. The government would also call for a high-level
meeting to be composed of the undersecretaries of
various government agencies including the DOTC, and
the Departments of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, the ASEAN urged its members
to work toward greater liberalization of traffic rights,
believing that by introducing free competition in
air services, the economies of ASEAN will be closely
linked through more affordable and efficient passenger
and cargo services.
Liz Claiborne appoints
CTSI Logistics as airfreight forwarder in the Philippines
CTSI LOGISTICS was once again nominated
as Liz Claiborne, Inc.'s airfreight forwarder.
For the first time, the Philippine
company was able to add another origin (Manila) to
its Liz Claiborne trade lanes besides Saipan. Last
May 18, the Manila airfreight staff handling the fashion
brand's account underwent CTSITrax user's training
to ensure their familiarity with the client's airfreight
forwarding requirements.
THE Philippine maritime industry's performance
in 2003 was sluggish compared with its performance
in the previous year, according to the Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA).
In its accomplishment report for 2003,
the maritime agency reported a 9% decrease in the
number of accredited domestic shipping companies last
year from those accredited in 2002. It attributed
the flat growth to "unforeseeable constraint that
affected not only the Philippines but the world."
MARINA said potential investors worried about the
economy due to political instability, the peace and
order situation, and other internal concerns.
The continuous peso depreciation and
increasing interest rates pulled down vessel acquisition
for domestic use by 14% in 2003 from the 2002 figure.
Last year also witnessed a 21% decline in the number
of vessels acquired through importation to 104 from
121 in 2002. Bareboat chartering, on the other hand,
manifested a 14% increase to 25 vessels from 22 vessels.
MARINA said imported vessels sold locally,
which local players consider a cheaper alternative
to acquiring vessels from abroad, went up to 87.
The agency noted domestic shipping operators
have previously lacked support from government in
terms of incentives or affordable financing schemes.
MARINA hopes the newly signed Domestic Shipping Development
Act of 2004 (DSDA) will address the issue. DSDA grants
investment incentives to the domestic shipping industry
and is designed to deregulate the industry, streamline
government regulatory, and improve trading practices.
Under DSDA, the importation and local
purchase of passenger and cargo vessels of 150 tons
and above, including their engine and spare parts,
is exempt from the value-added tax within ten years
from effectivity of the law.
Meanwhile special permits or exemption
permits issued by the maritime agency to overseas
vessels deployed in the domestic trade fell 57% due
to the termination of contracts for government projects
where such vessels were being utilized. "Also, local
vessels are now available to service the requirements
of local shippers to transport their cargoes," it
noted.
MARINA said the deletion of vessels
from the Philippine registry increased 10% due to
higher exports of used vessels which accounted for
87%.
