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The Philippine Ports Authority assured that they will act on complaints against harbor pilots that are properly documented and substantiated
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PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said they have been advising port users to put down in writing their complaints, along with proofs
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Santiago said no harbor pilot has so far been penalized under PPA’s new guidelines on harbor pilots and pilotage services because complaints lack specific details and documentation on alleged violations
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) assured that they will act on complaints against harbor pilots as long as such complaints are properly documented and substantiated, PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said.
“Isulat niyo (Put it in writing) and we will act on it. I promise you, we will act on it as long as the complaints are substantiated. I don’t mind cancelling mga appointments ng harbor pilots if it’s proven that they really committed an infraction,” Santiago said in a recent press briefing.
PPA appoints harbor pilots that can serve in port pilotage districts. The service of harbor pilots remains compulsory for both international and domestic vessels.
Santiago said they have been receiving complaints and reports through various channels but complainants are anonymous and/or do not provide specific details such as the alleged exorbitant fees.
He noted that PPA do “ask around” when they get complaints but they end up “facing a blank wall” when they do not have leads because of the lack of additional documentation.
Santiago said PPA has been advising port users to put down in writing their complaints, along with proofs so the ports authority can properly investigate.
He noted that PPA has previously handed out disciplinary actions against harbor pilots proven to have committed an infraction.
The PPA chief, however, said the lack of specific details and documentation on alleged violations committed by harbor pilots is why there are no harbor pilots penalized yet under Administrative Order (AO) No. 01-2025, which provides PPA’s new guidelines on harbor pilots and pilotage services.
READ: PPA issues revised policy on pilots, pilotage services
Some stakeholders, however, said issues still persist despite the issuance of AO No. 01-2025.
These include, among others, unauthorized and arbitrary charges, unresolved conflict of interest issues, pilot availability and scheduling issues, and non-compliance with prescribed pilotage moves.
Shipping groups consisting of the Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc., Philippine Ship Agents Association, and Philippine Liner Shipping Association in a joint communication to PPA in 2025 said they continue to observe practices that they say “reflect a disturbing pattern of non-compliance that contradicts the very objectives of AO 01-2025: to professionalize, regulate, and ensure the fairness and transparency of harbor pilot services in Philippine ports.”
READ: Shipping groups deplore anew ‘persistent irregularities’ in harbor pilot services
To address concerns, the groups reiterate their recommendations to PPA, including the conduct of a comprehensive compliance audit of harbor pilot services in all pilotage districts.
They also ask to enforce the provisions of AO 01-2025 and related regulations through stricter monitoring and disciplinary action, where warranted.
The groups are also asking PPA to establish a transparent complaints and redress mechanism to address reports of malpractice and abuse of authority by harbor pilots, as well as to initiate a stakeholder dialogue to assess the effectiveness of AO 01-2025 and explore amendments where necessary to ensure its successful implementation.
Santiago noted, however, that he does not see the need for a dedicated mechanism for complaints on harbor pilot services because even without it, stakeholders can and are already submitting their complaints through letters to PPA or anonymously through the government’s complaint center.
“We want to help. We want to improve. In fact, as a measure to professionalize yung harbor pilotage, we’ve come up with a memorandum of agreement with the pilots association on the training, on the disciplinary exercises that has to be meted out to their members. So…we’re interacting with them to make sure we’re able to professionalize that sector of port services also,” Santiago said.— Roumina Pablo
