Philippine Ship Agents Association: rough seas ahead

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Philippine Ship Agents Association: rough seas ahead
The 2023 officers and board of the Philippine Ship Agents Association was inducted on Dec 8. Photo by Sel Guevara.
  • Philippine Ship Agents Association president Joselito Ilagan pointed to rough seas ahead for the industry
  • The new PSAA officers and directors for 2023 were inducted on Dec 8
  • Joselito Ilagan of TMS Ship Agencies, Inc. is serving a second term as president
  • Majority of PSAA’s officials and board members were also re-elected
  • Patrick Ronas of Mstar Ship Agencies, Inc. is a new entry on the Board as director

Philippine Ship Agents Association (PSAA) president Joselito Ilagan pointed to rough seas ahead during a speech at the Dec 8 induction ceremonies for PSAA officers and directors for 2023.

“There are many challenges,” said Ilagan of TMS Ship Agencies, Inc., now on his second term as president.

“Our association is actively participating in the deliberation of the policies, and we hope that this will help the maritime industry, in terms of cost and efficiency, and in shipping operations and logistics,” he added.

Challenges also lie in conveying “to those who are crafting the bills that there are issues in the maritime industry that will not be beneficial to consumers. The challenge for us is to clearly state our position to the government.”

PSAA is specifically monitoring the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) policy that will require container registration and monitoring, which Ilagan said duplicates Bureau of Customs (BOC) functions.

He described the policy as unnecessary and in “contrast to the mandate of the government to reduce the cost of transport and logistics.”

PPA through Administrative Order (AO) No. 04-2021 prescribes the policy on the registration and monitoring of containers entering and leaving PPA ports, including the scheduling, loading, unloading, release, and movement of all containers. Under the new policy, all containers are required to register in the system to be adopted by PPA and to secure a container insurance policy.

Various stakeholder organizations and business groups have, however, raised concerns on the policy, saying it’s redundant, will prolong port stay of containers, and entail additional costs.

PPA has yet to implement the policy but it has already bid out and awarded the system to a service provider. PPA is set to hold a public consultation on the AO’s implementing operational guidelines on December 15.

2023 Board

Majority of PSAA officials and board members were re-elected for service next year. A new board entrant is Patrick Ronas of Mstar Ship Agencies, Inc. as director.

The officers who took their oath are the following:

  • Vice president for internal affairs Walter Coronel, Inter-Asia Marine Transport, Inc.
  • Vice president for external affairs Leo Philip Buñag, Mizzen Shipping Enterprises, Inc.
  • Secretary Ricardo Jamandre, Swen Logistics and Shipping Agency, Inc.
  • Treasurer German Bonifacio, Jr., I-Prudential Shipping Agency Services, Inc.

The 2023 directors are:

  • Antonio C. Calingo, Jr. (Wallem Philippines Shipping Agencies, Inc.)
  • Daniel R. Alampay (Baliwag Shipping Agency, Inc.)
  • Brian Walton S. Salonga (RCS Shipping Agencies, Inc.)
  • Alfred Hernandez (Seabridge Port Agencies Corp.)
  • Dante A. Romano (Seaway Filipinas Logistics, Inc.)
  • Ildefonso C. Gonzales (Sharp Port Services, Inc.)
  • Patrick Ronas (Mstar Ship Agencies, Inc.)
  • Russell R. More, NMC Ship Agency & Brokerage, Inc.
  • Romel Y. Carmelotes (COSCO Shipping Lines [Phils.], Inc.)
  • Virginia C Madlang-Awa (Dona Virginia Maritima Corp.)

Reporting by Sel Guevara and Roumina Pablo

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