All pending applications for accreditation and permit to operate (PTO) received by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and its port management offices (PMOs) prior to or after March 15, 2020 are deemed approved and valid anew for another month until September 30, 2020.
Hold-over authorities (HOA) to operate cargo-handling services that expired or are expiring during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ, and general community quarantine (GCQ) periods are likewise extended for another month or until September 30.
Moreover, all other permits, certificates, and authorizations issued by PPA or its PMOs which have expired or are expiring during the ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ periods are also deemed extended until September 30, according to PPA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 33-2020, signed by PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago on August 28.
To avoid fines, charges, and penalties, an application for extension or renewal should be filed on or before September 30, according to MC 33-2020.
PPA said the validity of PPA approvals and permits was further extended in view of the continued strict implementation of a work-from-home scheme at its head office, and in consonance with Administrative Order (AO) No. 30. The AO, released by the Office of the President on April 21, directs all government agencies to formulate and issue guidelines on the interruption of the periods for filing of documents, payment of taxes, charges and other fees, and cancellation of proceedings at their offices.
Last April PPA through MC 15-2020 extended the validity of all PPA permits that had expired before March 17, 2020 and during the effectivity of the ECQ period up to June 30, 2020. Last July, it issued MC 23-2020 which extended the validity of PPA approvals and permits until July 31. Another extension was made until August 30 under MC 30-2020.
READ: PPA pending applications, permit to operate valid until Aug 31
All provisions of MC 15-2020 that are consistent with MC 32-2020 remain valid. – Roumina Pablo
