Memorandum Circular No. 05, Series of 2026, signed by CPA General Manager Francisco Comendador III, stated that the discount will take effect for two months—from May 10 to July 9—and will be subject to periodic review.
Based on the memorandum, the domestic cargo handling share to be remitted to the CPA will be slashed by half across the board for all CPA-accredited domestic cargo handling service providers operating in the Ports of Cebu.
This marks the second time in less than two weeks that the CPA has reduced port fees to help cargo handling service providers at its ports cope with the ongoing energy crisis.
Discounts
Starting April 18, the CPA granted a 40-percent discount on berthing and anchorage fees and suspended RoRo wharfage fees for cargo vessels carrying agricultural products.
It also suspended the collection of passenger terminal fees, as well as fees for single-entry passes and permits for watering, bunkering, and other services.
These measures were lauded by the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association Inc. (PCSA), the country’s largest organization of local shipowners and operators.
The PCSA is an umbrella organization composed of three shipping associations: the Philippine RoRo Operators Association, the Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Shipowners, and the United Trampers Association of the Philippines.
Commendation
In a statement, PCSA Administrator Cesar Licudine said the measures effectively supported the efforts of many domestic shipping companies to cut losses amid the current global oil crisis.
Letters of commendation were sent to Comendador and the Cebu Port Commission board members for adopting measures that help passenger and cargo ships, as well as trampers calling at the Port of Cebu, survive the ongoing crisis.
Most ships docking at the Port of Cebu ply the Visayas–Mindanao routes.
Licudine said the commendations reflect the association’s continued trust in Cebu-based port agencies’ ability to protect the local shipping industry.
However, the PCSA administrator expressed hope that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) would adopt similar policies to provide relief to domestic shipping companies not covered by the CPA’s and Cebu Port Commission’s revised measures.
The PCSA earlier wrote to Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez seeking similar discounts on port fees, particularly within the PPA’s jurisdiction, which covers ports across the country. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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