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The Philippine Ports Authority created special takeover units to undertake cargo handling at Tandayag port in Negros Oriental and passenger terminal building operations at Virac port in Catanduanes
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PPA-Tandayag Port Service and PPA-Passenger Terminal Building-Virac Port Services were created to ensure the continuous and efficient delivery of cargo-handling and other related services at the two ports
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has created special takeover units (STUs) to undertake cargo handling at Tandayag port in Negros Oriental and passenger terminal building (PTB) operations at Virac port in Catanduanes.
PPA-Tandayag Port Service (PPA-TPS), through Memorandum Order (MO) No. 018-2024, and PPA-Passenger Terminal Building-Virac Port Services (PPA-PTB-VPS), through MO 017-2024, were created to ensure the continuous and efficient delivery of cargo-handling and other related services at the two ports.
PPA-TPS will provide cargo-handling and other related services at Tandayag port while PPA-PTB-VPS will manage and operate PTB services at Virac port.
PPA-TPS, among its functions and duties, should ensure the continuous and uninterrupted cargo-handling services in a more efficient manner and collect the existing rental rates, cargo handling fees and other charges for cargo-handling services rendered.
PPA-PTB-VPS, meanwhile, should also ensure continuous and uninterrupted PTB services and collect the existing PTB fees, rental rates and other charges for PTB services rendered.
The management, supervision and control of PPA-TPS and PPA-PTB-VPS will be under the acting port manager of PPA Port Management Office (PMO)-Negros Oriental/Siquijor and port manager of PMO-Bicol, respectively, and to be complemented by PPA officials and employees.
Tandayag port was constructed to primarily support the passenger ferry service between Tandayag Point and Bato, Santander, Cebu.
Virac port, meanwhile, connects Catanduanes to the main island of Luzon through Tabaco port in Albay via ferries and roll-on/roll-off services.
PPA has been creating special takeover units over the past years to take over the operation of ports when necessary, such as when the existing cargo-handling operator’s contract has expired and no replacement has been selected.
READ: PPA special takeover units as interim operators of unmanaged ports
The takeover units will operate the ports, and may bring in the minimum cargo-handling equipment required, which they may lease from the previous operators, PPA said.
When there is no longer need for the takeover unit, the management and operations of the ports will be turned over to the winners of public biddings for new private operators to be conducted by the PPA.
