Bill opening PH domestic ports to foreign ships passes House committee level

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ID-100287165The Lower House has approved at committee level a bill that will allow foreign ships to dock at multiple Philippine ports if they carry cargoes intended for import or export and are duly cleared by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Three committees of the Lower House—trade and industry, transportation, and ways and means—on March 17 voted to approve the Senate version of the bill authored by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.

Senate Bill No. 2486, which amends Section 1009 of Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code (TCCP) of 1978, was approved on third and final reading by the Senate on February 23.

The bill enters second reading when the Lower House session resumes on May 4 after taking a break from March 21 to May 3.

The bill has gathered support from stakeholders such as the Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association, Association of International Shipping Lines, joint foreign chambers, and government agencies such as the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, and Bureau of Customs.

“We support this bill which gives importers and exporters the flexibility to use foreign carriers for through-transit import and export cargoes,” Roberto Umali, president of the Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association, told PortCalls in a text message.

Rona Gatdula, executive director of the Philippine Liner Shipping Association, which is a member of PISA, told PortCalls Aquino’s version of the bill “is an ideal compromise as it strikes a balance between the interest of the importers/exporters’ group and the domestic shipowners carrying container cargo.”

The bill was identified as one of the priority bills for passage by both the Senate and Lower House. In his 2013 State of the Nation Address, President Aquino urged Congress to amend the country’s cabotage policy “to foster greater competition and to lower the cost of transportation for our agricultural sector and other industries.”

Image courtesy of furuoda at FreeDigitalPhotos.net