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The Philippine Ports Authority has amended its policy on premium fees for pilotage services
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Under PPA Administrative Order No. 009-2025, the additional premium fee for pilotage services rendered on Sundays, holidays, or during night services will now be imposed and collected for every pilotage movement rendered to a vessel
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This includes docking, undocking, and shifting, in accordance with the applicable pilotage tariff rates duly approved by PPA
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AO No. 009-2025 takes effect on January 11 and amends Section 25.8 of the Omnibus Guidelines on Harbor Pilots and Pilotage Services of 2025
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The amendment aligns with Supreme Court rulings upholding the validity of imposing pilotage fees for every pilotage movement rendered as well as harbor pilots’ entitlement to proper compensation
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has amended its policy on premium fees for pilotage services.
Under PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 009-2025, which takes effect on January 11, the additional premium fee for pilotage services rendered on Sundays, holidays, or during night services will now be imposed and collected for every pilotage movement rendered to a vessel, including, but not limited to, docking, undocking, and shifting.
The new rates should be in accordance with the applicable pilotage tariff rates duly approved by PPA.
AO 009-2025 amends Section 25.8 of PPA AO 001-2025 (Omnibus Guidelines on Harbor Pilots and Pilotage Services of 2025), which states that the additional premium fee for Sundays, holidays or night services shall be based only on one regular service fee, regardless of how many movements have been rendered to the vessel, whether regular or special.
READ: PPA issues revised policy on pilots, pilotage services
PPA said the amendment of Section 25.8 of AO 001-2025 is pursuant to PPA Board Resolution No. 3427, which stated the need for the revision “to ensure its uniform, consistent, and proper implementation.”
It also seeks to align with the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in General Register (GR) No. 133763 (The United Harbor Pilots’ Association of the Philippines, Inc. [UHPAP], Petitioner, vs. Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc. [AISL], in its own behalf and in representation of its members and PPA, Respondents, November 13, 2002).
The high court’s decision upheld the validity of imposing pilotage fees for every pilotage movement rendered, and with the SC ruling in GR No. 172029 (AISL, in its own behalf and representation of its members, Petitioner, vs. UHPAP, Respondent, August 6, 2008), which affirmed that harbor pilots are entitled to proper compensation, including nighttime differential and overtime pay, pursuant to PPA’s own administrative issuances.
AO No. 009-2025 also provides that, consistent with the principles affirmed in GR No. 172029, which recognized PPA’s mandate to ensure proper and lawful compensation for pilotage services, including overtime and nighttime differential pay, “PPA deems it appropriate to extend such principle to cover services rendered on holidays and Sundays, in accordance with PPA’s administrative powers.”
Accordingly, harbor pilots will be entitled to proper compensation, including overtime, nighttime differential, and corresponding premium pay for services rendered on Sundays and holidays, pursuant to the relevant pilotage tariff rates and PPA administrative issuances.
AO 009-2025 also notes that PPA Memorandum Order No. 22-2013, which provides the rationalized pilotage fees for foreign vessels and agreed charges for other services, remain in effect. For coastwise vessels, the rates prescribed under Executive Order No. 1088, issued in 1986, will apply.
The service of harbor pilots remains compulsory for both international and domestic vessels.
PPA in 2025 issued AO 001-2025 to update its policy issued more than 40 years ago and to address the concerns of stakeholders and ensure consistency with new applicable laws, rules, and regulations. — Roumina Pablo
