PPA imposes new gross weights for roro vehicles

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Roll-on/roll-off ships and vehicles at the Port of Calapan, Mindoro
Roll-on/roll-off ships and vehicles at the Port of Calapan, Mindoro

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has prescribed new maximum gross weights for roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vehicles using its ports under PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 05-2020.

The order also rationalizes the basis for determining the Ro-Ro vehicles’ maximum allowable gross weight when weighed at PPA ports.

AO 05-2020 took effect on August 15 but announced online only on September 2.

The allowable maximum gross weight upon weighing should conform to the allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) prescribed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) under amended implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) No. 8794, or An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle User’s Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicle and for other purposes.

PPA Port Operations and Services Department manager Atty. Hiyasmin Delos Santos, during a presentation at the recent 115th Maritime Forum, said the amendment makes standards for vehicles using roads and ports consistent.

The new allowable GVW for Ro-Ro vehicles are as follows:

  • Four wheels and below-registered gross vehicle weight
  • Truck with two axles (six wheels) – 18,000 kilograms (kg)
  • Truck with tandem rear axle, three axles (10 wheels) – 33,300 kg
  • Truck with tandem rear axle, four axles (14 wheels) – 35,600 kg
  • Truck-semi trailer with two axles at motor vehicle and one axle at trailer (10 wheels) – 34,000 kg
  • Truck-semi trailer with two axles at motor vehicle and two axles at trailer (14 wheels) – 40,600 kg
  • Truck-semi trailer with two axles at motor vehicle and three axles at trailer (18 wheels) – 41,000 kg
  • Truck-semi trailer with three axles at motor vehicle and one axle at trailer – 39,700 kg
  • Truck-semi trailer with three axles at motor vehicle and two axles at trailer (18 wheels) – 41,500 kg
  • Truck-semi trailer with three axles at motor vehicle and three axles at trailer (22 wheels) – 42,000 kg
  • Truck-trailer with two axles at motor vehicle and two axles at trailer (14 wheels) – 39,700 kg
  • Truck-trailer with two axles at motor vehicle and three axles at trailer (18 wheels) – 43,500 kg
  • Truck-trailer with three axles at motor vehicle and two axles at trailer (18 wheels) – 43,500 kg
  • Truck-trailer with three axles at motor vehicle and three axles at trailer (22 wheels) – 45,000 kg

For ports without PPA-accredited service providers that can provide weighbridge facilities, Ro-Ro vehicles should present a weighing slip issued by DPWH or its duly accredited or authorized providers.

If there are no weigh bridge facilities in the area or port and for safety reasons, the master of the ship can decide which vehicles to load or not, pursuant to Rule VII, Section 1.5 of DOTr Department Order No. 2003-39.

Under PPA AO 05-2019, weighing is mandatory for all domestic outbound laden containers and Ro-Ro vehicles. All Ro-Ro cargo, including vehicles found overweight when weighed at the port, will not be allowed to board unless their weight is reduced.

READ: PPA scraps weighing fee for containers, Ro-Ro cargoes

This year, PPA, under AO 05-2019, also scrapped the weighing fee on domestic outbound laden containers and Ro-Ro vehicle types 3 and 4, provided such vehicles are registered for commercial purposes and loaded with commercial cargo. – Roumina Pablo

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