THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina)
has approved a 30% increase in fees and charges for
the overseas shipping sector in the next two years.In
a memorandum order, the authority said the increase
will be implemented in two tranches: the first 15% will
take effect in the first quarter of the year and the
remaining 15% will be implemented a year later.The hike
is part of Malaca–ang's directive to all government
departments and state-owned firms to increase rates
by not less than 20% annually. Based on the revised
schedule of fees and charges, a vessel charter, extension
of charter period, and notations on bareboat charger
contract will now be charged P21,550 for the first three
years and P4,600 for every year thereafter. For a special
permit for temporary utilization of domestic liner operation,
Marina would now charge P34,500 for six months and P57,500
for over six months to one year. Data from the Marina
showed there are only 6! 6 accredited overseas shipping
companies in the country as of end 2005, of which 62
were bareboat firms. The figure is the lowest since
1988 when it was at 167.As of January this year, the
Philippine overseas fleet was also at its lowest, at
165 from a high of 467 in 1998.Meanwhile, the Philippine
government is set to introduce new rule under its register
in a bid to attract more ships to fly the Philippine
flag. This, after the government failed to increase
the number of vessels in its overseas fleet sailing
under the Philippine flag even with more liberalized
bareboat chartering rules.The proposal includes the
promotion and expansion of the Philippines' ship register.
Under a draft presidential executive order, foreign-owned
ships represented by a ship management company duly
accredited by Marina would be entitled to fly the country's
flag. It also plans to appoint register officers who
will facilitate, control and
enforce compliance of ships flying the flag.
Air carriers
ask government to develop airport facilities
FOUR local carriers have petitioned
the Department of Transportation and Communications
(DOTC) to develop airport facilities in support of their
programs to replace aging aircraft to save on rising
costs of fuel.The petitions were forwarded by flag carrier
Philippine Airlines (PAL) and budget carrier unit Air
Philippines, Cebu Pacific (CEB), and Asian Spirit, said
Transport Undersecretary Roberto Cata–ares.PAL
is expected to take delivery of nine brand-new Airbus
A320 jets, with an option for five more, from 2006 to
2008 in a deal worth $840 million. Air Philippines has
a fleet order of four B737-200 due to operate this quarter.CEB
for its part has a fleet on order for 10 A319 and two
A320 until 2007.Asian Spirit has also ordered two DASH7
and three Bae146 to be introduced by May 2006. The aircraft
will fly to airports in Pagadian, Iligan, Legaspi, and
Tacloban.Casta–ares said the DOTC sought carriers'
comments on how to allocate future budgets for airport
development, which averaged only P200 million annually
for the past five years.There are about 85 airports
in the Philippines, only half of which have commercial
operations by the four local carriers.Casta–ares
said the carriers proposed the development of airports
in Cotabato, Kalibo, Caticlan, Busuanga, Butuan, Dipolog,
Roxas, zamboanga, Puerto Princesa, and Legaspi. Meanwhile,
Casta–ares said the DOTC will push for the creation
a body that will manage the assets and liabilities of
the eight international and alternate international
airports in the Philippines.The move is aimed at allowing
the losing international and alternate international
airports to secure loans and assistance for airport
development.
THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
reported an additional P850 million earnings in 2005
due to the reduction of its dollar-denominated debts
with the appreciation of the local currency."This
favorable performance could be attributed to the appreciation
of the peso from P52 to $1 compared to the P56 to $1
in 2004," Aida Dizon, PPA assistant general manager
for finance and administration, said.The port agency
is one of the government's biggest revenue earners netting
P3.62 billion in 2005, 13% higher than the P3.2 billion
posted in 2004.Revenues reached P5.65 billion following
an increase in fees levied on International Container
Terminal and Services Inc. Sixty percent of the PPA
revenues come from the Manila ports.Dizon said the PPA
expects to generate P6.4 billion in revenues in 2006
as a result of an increase in traffic in seaports and
other maritime terminals.In terms of outstanding debts,
the PPA has only about P5 billion.The agency, meanwhile,
accrued P166.42 million in interest, which will form
part of the PPA's working capital for the year."We
still don't need the money so we invested it in treasury
bills and our investment has now produced P166 million
worth of interest," Dizon said during an earlier
interview.Dizon also revealed that part of the proposed
P2-billion seven-year bond float this year will be used
for the installation of additional roll on-roll off
(ro-ro) ramps at the seven major ports being targeted
for modernization until 2010.Targeted for upgrade and
improvement under the proposed bond float are the ports
of Cagayan De Oro, General Santos, Ozamis, Zamboanga,
Davao, Ilo-Ilo and North HarborShe estimated that the
installation of the ro-ro ramps will cost at least P10
to P15 million per port or around P105 million of the
estimated P2 billion bond float.Dizon said the rest
of the amount will be used for pier improvement, dredging,
acquisition of harbour equipment, construction of passenger
and cargo terminals and devices used for port and ship
security.
CTAP
to gov't: Issue policy on cutthroat rate operators
THE Confederation of Truckers Association
of the Philippines (CTAP) wants the government to
issue a policy to pin down truck operators that offer
cutthroat rates."The government should establish
policies to forestall the proliferation of fly-by-night
and colorum operations of trucks," CTAP president
Rodolfo De Ocampo told PortCalls.He added
that the government should require trucking companies
to join an association accredited by the Department
of Trade and Industry to avert cutthroat competition.Small
truckers offer very low rates just to keep their units
running. Companies, in turn, hire their services to
save on costs."This practice should be stopped.
Truckers who perform this kind of operation stop their
service in several weeks or months because they cannot
sustain the business. This destroys the stability
of the trucking industry," De Ocampo stressed.Last
year, the entire trucking industry suffered a 20%
cargo volume drop that forced trucking firms to cut
their growth projection from positive to negative.For
this year, CTAP members are optimistic that the volume
of cargo will rebound by some 10% to 15%.For the first
two months of the year, cargo movement however continued
going south due to the ongoing political tussle. It
is expected to recover in the second quarter as firms
begin to import to build up inventory.
THE Bureau of Customs on Monday filed
charges against eight alleged rice smugglers for trying
to illegally bring in approximately P3 million worth
of rice into the country.The BOC filed the cases before
the Department of Justice in line with the bureau's
Run After the Smugglers (RATS) program.Customs commissioner
Napoleon Morales said 13 cases involving 47 personalities
have been already filed under the RATS program, which
is part of the three-pronged crusade against economic
saboteurs. The other two are Run after Tax Evaders
and Revenue Integrity Protection Service.Charged before
the Department of Justice were Franco Arsistio, proprietor/
manager of Arsicor General Merchandising; Joel Ruiz,
proprietor of Joruan General Merchandise; Wendylyn
Cabang, customs broker; and Enriquito Dizon, president
of Great Harbour Forwarding Services Corp. and its
officers Liberty de Ramos, Walter de Ramos, Elenia
Ambrocio and Josephine Fabro.They were charged for
participating in the importation of rice misdeclared
as showcase and packing machine consigned to Arsicor
General Merchandise and Joruan General Merchandise,
consisting of seven by 20
containers valued at over P3 million. The container
arrived last December 1, 2005 at the Port of Manila
from Hong Kong.Cabang was previously charged with
smuggling involving P2.5 million worth of ceramic
tiles consigned to Intensity General Merchandising,
and is under preliminary investigation at DOJ.
