The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has extended the validity of the Permit to Operate (PTO) issued to ancillary services from one year to three years. At the same time, the agency exempted shipping companies from the requirement to secure a PTO.

These are rules under PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 09-2020, which revised guidelines on the issuance of PTO. The AO takes effect on December 15.

PPA requires all port service providers at ports under its jurisdiction to secure a PTO before rendering any service.

Under AO 09-2020, an accreditation for a specific port service issued by PPA is also required in the issuance of a PTO. Last year, PPA issued revised guidelines and standardized fees for the issuance of accreditation to port service providers, and included more service providers in the coverage.

Ancillary services under AO 09-2020 include shipping agent, transport service/cargo forwarding/freight forwarding/hauling/trucking/shuttling/bus, hauling of own cargoes/transport of own employees or guests, bunkering, booking/ticketing office, canteen, cargo checking, cargo surveying, chandling, cleaning service, container repair, and communication service.

It also includes equipment hire, equipment repair, environmental management service, fumigation, laundering, lighterage/barging, parking/garage, reproduction/photocopy, security service, shops/stores, towing/tugging service, vessel repair/maintenance, water supplier, water taxi, weighbridge/truck scale, and other businesses and services that may be classified by PPA as port service.

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