Port user’s certificate new requirement for port-bound trucks

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ID-100257078On top of the provisional authority to operate from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), trucks for hire servicing the ports of Manila must secure a port user’s certificate from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to avoid apprehension, LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said in an advisory.

The requirement for such a certificate follows a recent LTFRB ruling, which temporarily halted the apprehension of for-hire trucks servicing Manila ports that missed the deadline for franchise application and therefore do not yet have a provisional authority to operate. The suspension of the apprehension policy is aimed at ensuring sufficient supply of trucks to help decongest the country’s main gateways.

PPA started distributing the port user’s certificates to truck operators on August 27. The certificates may be secured at the PPA Training Center, Gate 4, North Harbor, Manila.

There are 12,145 trucks for hire identified as users of the ports of Manila. Of these, 2,145 failed to meet the franchise application deadline and do not have a provisional authority. Ginez in a text message to PortCalls said these trucks will be given priority in the issuance of the port user’s certificate.

Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines director Alberto Suansing urged the quick release of the certificates to ensure no trucks with port-related activities will face apprehension.

The deadline for all types of for-hire trucks to apply for a public utility franchise was August 22. Operators meeting the deadline were automatically issued a provisional authority to operate valid until October 17, 2014.

LTFRB has, however, had to recently grant concessions to trucks used to transport goods to and from Manila ports, on account of the ongoing problem of port congestion.

For one, the provisional authority given to for-hire trucks servicing the ports is “valid until port operations normalize as determined by the Cabinet Cluster (dealing with port congestion),” Ginez said. This is in contrast to the Oct 17 validity for trucks that are non-port users.

For another, new franchise applications of the 2,145 trucks used for port operations that missed the application deadline will also automatically come with a provisional authority to operate. In comparison, non-port users may apply for a new franchise but will no longer be given the same provisional authority.

In another development, CTAP president Ruperto Bayocot said the turnaround of trucks has been “a bit faster” with the introduction of express trade lanes, but the return of empty containers is still a problem due to lack of space in container yards.

Depending on the shipping line serviced, the time for return of empties can take at least two days. – Roumina Pablo

Image courtesy of Sailom at FreeDigitalPhotos.net