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Manila North Harbour Port is proposing a 20.32% hike in cargo-handling tariff, passenger terminal fee, and porterage rates
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In addition, it is eyeing 13 new tariff items for North Port, the domestic terminal at Manila North Harbor
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The last cargo-handling tariff and passenger terminal fee adjustment for North Port took effect in 2022, while there has been no adjustment to porterage rate since 2010
The Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI) is proposing a 20.32% increase in cargo-handling tariff, passenger terminal fee, and porterage rates. It is also eyeing 13 new tariff items for North Port, the domestic terminal at Manila North Harbor.
During an August 22 public consultation on the MNHPI petition, MNHPI legal cargo and claims head Mark Vincent Escalona said the proposed tariff adjustment is based on the computation of the consumer price index adjustment factor, which jumped 20.32% from 2020 to 2024.
Based on Philippine Ports Authority Administrative Order (AO) No. 02-2018, which prescribes a standard and uniform formula and procedures for cargo-handling tariff adjustment, the cargo-handling/terminal operator may apply for a cargo-handling tariff adjustment if the CPI has increased by at least 5% within a three-year period.
Escalona noted that the last cargo-handling tariff and passenger terminal fee adjustment for North Port took effect in 2022, while there has been no adjustment on porterage rates since 2010.
Moreover, he cited various initiatives undertaken at North Port over the past years that warrant an adjustment in tariff, including the improved passenger terminal building and container terminal, reclamation of Slip 15 to provide more yard space, acquisition of high-capacity equipment, refer facilities, one-stop processing center, and information technology-related investments.
New projects in the pipeline involve conversion of hybrid engines for select rubber-tired gantries (RTGs), acquisition of near zero emission RTG’s, and acquisition of mobile harbor cranes.
13 new tariff items
MNHPI is also proposing to include 13 new items in North Port’s tariff. The new items are based on services rendered, which incur costs outside the coverage of regular cargo-handling services and/or scope of existing approved rates, Escalona said. The new items, by way of penalty, also aim to encourage compliance with safety best practices, as well as timely submission of critical documentation and arrival of cargoes, all “to ensure continuous and efficient port operations,” he added.
The proposed new tariff items include the following:
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Reefer charges – covers plug-in, plug-out and electrical power of reefer containers, P95.19 per 20-footer and P221.89 per 40-footer
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Administrative fee – for transactions related to gate pass cancellation, re-printing, replacement, system change and other similar requests, P128.63 per transaction
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Warehousing – a service rendered upon request, for storage of cargo in a warehouse, providing extra protection from weather and other external conditions, P27.26 per revenue ton (RT) per day
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Pier lighting (night operations) – a surcharge for lighting services at the terminal facility to facilitate safest vessel and cargo operations between 6:00p.m. to 6:00a.m., P97 per hour
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Twist-locks pinning and unpinning – a surcharge for securing (pinning) or removing (unpinning) twist-locks on containers while vessel loading and unloading, ensuring safe stacking and transport; applicable for non-automatic twist-lock, P14.90 per box
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Equipment rental (on-board service) – a service rendered upon request, for the use of equipment to be placed on-board a vessel for operational needs beyond the standard handling procedure/activity, 125% of the prevailing equipment rental/hire rates, minimum of four hours
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Public holiday fee – a surcharge for terminal operations performed on official public holidays, P1,080.85 per hour
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Reefer monitoring – a service for the real-time digital tracking of reefers parameters as well as automatic alerts on any deviation, ensuring maintenance of optimal conditions and timely interventions within the vicinity of the terminal area, P300 per box
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Container re-positioning – a service rendered upon request, for the movement of container/s or cargo between North Port and foreign ports in the Port of Manila, ensuring seamless flow between special gates, P6,500 per trip
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Backward-stowed container penalty – a penalty applied to containers which are stowed in reverse order, resulting in re-handling and delays in unloading or loading operations, rates start from P585.50 to P2,930.50
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Penalty for vessels without cell-guides – a penalty imposed on vessels without cell guides, P1,558.50 per lift of man cage
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Penalty for late submission of documentation – a penalty imposed for failure to submit any of the required shipping and/or clearance documents within the specified timeframe, P368 per document
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Container late arrival penalty – a penalty imposed for arrival of container outside the designated cut-off, leading to scheduling inefficiencies and re-handling moves, rates range from P2,220.50 to P6,200.50
Some of the proposed rates are the following:
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Over 10-footer to 20-footer (arrastre) – P1,763.29 per loaded container from the current P1,465.50; P704.47 per empty container from the current P585.50
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Over 10-footer to 20-footer (stevedoring) – P574.53 from the current P477.50
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Over 35-footer to 40-footer (arrastre) – P3,525.98 per loaded container from the current P2,930.50; P1,411.96 per empty container from the current P1,173.50
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Over 35-footer to 40-footer (stevedoring) — P 574.53 from the current P477.50
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Passenger terminal fee – P112.26 per embarking passenger from the current P93.30
Based on MNHPI’s computation, the effects of the 20.32% tariff adjustment to basic commodities will be, for example, P0.018 for a 900 gram pack of milk; P0.002 per 85 g pack of noodles; P0.020 per kilogram of flour, rice, banana, sugar, corn grits, and dressed chicken; P0.003 per 155 g of canned fish; P0.020 per one liter pack of edible oil; and P0.001 per 50g piece of egg.
Stakeholders have until September 1 to submit their position papers on the proposal. – Roumina Pablo
