-
PCBSI Port Terminal Management Corp. is proposing a 27.80% increase in the cargo-handling tariff at Dapitan port in Zamboanga del Norte
-
The company said the hike is essential for sustaining its operation and secure the resources necessary to continuously improve the efficiency, reliability, and safety of cargo handling services at Dapitan port
-
Dapitan port’s last tariff increase was in 2018
-
The proposed tariff is lower than the current tariffs of nearby ports Basilan and Ozamiz
-
Stakeholders have until July 15 to submit their position papers on PCBSI PTMC’s proposal
PCBSI Port Terminal Management Corp. (PCBSI PTMC) is proposing a 27.80% increase in the cargo-handling tariff at Dapitan port in Zamboanga del Norte.
PCBSI PTMC officer Monna Liza Catapang, in a presentation during the virtual public hearing of their petition on July 8, said the adjustment is essential to enable the company to sustain its operation and secure the resources necessary to continuously improve the efficiency, reliability, and safety of cargo handling services at Dapitan port, according to
“The additional revenues will support the investment in modernization, preventive maintenance programs, workers training, and other operational enhancements necessary to meet the increasing demands of port users,” she added.
Catapang said the proposal represents the third petition for tariff adjustment filed by PCBSI PTMC since it assumed the provision of cargo-handling services at Dapitan port.
“Despite continuously providing cargo-handling services from 2012 to 2025 or up to present, the company has yet to fully recover the substantial investment [in] the acquisition and maintenance of cargo handling equipment, manpower deployment, and compliance with the regulatory, safety, and operational standards prescribed by the Philippine Ports Authority,” Catapang said.
READ: PPA renews Oroport Cagayan de Oro cargo-handling contract
Following a petition for nationwide tariff increase by the Philippine Chamber of Arrastre & Stevedoring Operators, Inc., in 2011, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) granted a 10% provisional increase that took effect in 2013. In 2015, PCBSI petitioned for the grant of the balance of the provisional tariff increase, which was approved and implemented in 2018. Also in 2018, PCBSI filed for an 8.31% increment in tariff, which was rejected by PPA. An amended petition for the 2018 proposal was filed in July 2019, which was again rejected. A month later in August 2019, PCBSI again filed an amended petition, which was again rejected by PPA.
Ultimately, Catapang said, the proposed adjustment would contribute to “a more efficient and sustainable port operation resulting in improved service delivery, faster cargo turnaround, enhanced workplace safety and greater operational reliability for the benefit of shipping companies, cargo owners, consignees, port users and stakeholders.”
PCBSI PTMC’s petition is pursuant to PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 02-2018, which prescribes the authority’s standard and uniform formula and procedures for cargo-handling tariff adjustment.
Under AO 02-2018, which took effect in March 2018, the cargo-handling/terminal operator may apply for a cargo-handling tariff adjustment if the consumer price index (CPI) has increased by at least 5% within a three-year period.
CPI, computed and provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority, is a statistical measure of the average retail pricing of goods and services commonly purchased by a particular group of people in a particular area.
According to Catapang, there was a change in the CPI from 2018 to 2025 by 27.8%.
PCBSI PTMC has also fulfilled its eligibility requirements under AO No. 02-2018 and contractual commitments.
Investments
As of June 2026, PCBSI PTMC has procured cargo-handling equipment worth a total of P23 million, and invested P1.3 million for cargo-handling gears, with more scheduled to be procured in the next 10 years. The operator also acquired P300,000 worth of firefighting equipment and P3 million worth of personal protective equipment as of June 2026.
From 2018 to 2025, PCBSI PTMC’s capital expenditures has reached P12.5 million while payments to government, including to PPA and local business tax, has reached P63.564 million.
PCBSI PTMC is also developing Cargofast, a centralized port operations management system for roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ports. The system, which will be pilot-tested at Calapan port, is designed to streamline port operations, enhance operational efficiency, improve data accuracy, and strengthen monitoring and reporting. The system is planned to be rolled out in all PCBSI PTMC-managed ports engaged in RoRo operations, including Dapitan port.
On the impact of the proposed tariff increase, Catapang said there is an additional P0.02 per kilo of general commodities such as rice, pork, sugar, milk, and flour, and an additional P0.007 per 350 gram container of sardines.
For non-prime commodities, there is an additional P0.02 per kilo of cement (palletized), and P0.03 per kilo of cement (non-palletized), fertilizer, and iron and steel products (non-palletized).
Compared to other nearby ports, Catapang said the proposed tariff for non-prime commodities is still 11% and 77% lower than the current tariff at Basilan port and Ozamiz port, respectively.
For prime commodities, the proposed tariff is 10% lower than Basila port’s tariff and 27% lower than Ozamiz port.
Stakeholders have until July 15 to submit their position papers on PCBSI PTMC’s proposal.
