PPA bars unaccredited truckers from all ports

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Tuesday that it started enforcing a “No Permit, No Service” policy on Nov. 1 on all truckers using its terminals nationwide.

“Apart from being barred to transact at the port terminals, they will be meted with an appropriate sanction,” PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said in a statement.

Truck operators, according to Mr. Santiago, should comply with the requirement to obtain a certificate of accreditation and a permit to operate.

“We are warning ‘colorum’ truck operators to comply,” he said.

The policy was authorized by PPA Memorandum Circular 19-2021, which requires truckers to obtain a certificate of accreditation and a permit to operate.

“The agency imposed the first deadline to secure (the certificate and permit) on 15 October 2021, and it was extended on 31 October 2021, requiring the truckers to merely file an accomplished application form and submit all pertinent documents by 31 December 2021,” the PPA said.

A trucker applying for a three-year operating permit gets a 50% fee reduction.

“However, it was learned that several truckers still refuse to comply or get operating permits from PPA,” the agency said.

It also said that as of the Oct. 31 deadline, 75% of the truckers operating at the Port of Manila had complied. — Arjay L. Balinbin