Question & AnswerQ&A (PPA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 02-2005)
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is the main authority governing the establishment and operation of the Dangerous Cargo Area at South Harbor, pursuant to Section 27 of Presidential Decree 857 and related PPA Administrative Orders.
Dangerous cargoes are those contained or declared in the latest edition of the IMDG Code, the Dangerous Goods Manual/List of PPA, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs and DENR, the Outward/Inward Foreign Manifest, or any document showing the cargo possesses hazardous properties due to its characteristics or chemical composition.
The objectives are to ensure the safe handling, transport, and storage of dangerous cargoes; to effectively supervise and monitor the movement of dangerous cargoes; and to comply with international standards.
Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI), the cargo handling contractor of South Harbor, is responsible for developing, establishing, and operating the DCA within its area of responsibility.
Warehouses must have separate drainage systems with shutoff valves and means to discharge contaminated water safely, proper ventilation, fire-resisting walls and ceilings with explosion-proof bulbs, safety signs and markings, adequate firefighting equipment, aisles at least three meters wide, and safe stacking and segregation of dangerous cargoes.
Shippers, exporters, brokers, or shipping agents must secure a Dangerous Cargo Handling Permit from the PPA. Importation and exportation permits must also be secured for explosives from the PNP, for ozone-depleting substances from DENR, for chemicals covered by RA 6969, and for radioactive substances from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.
The shipping company, agent, or broker must submit the Dangerous Cargo Inward or Outward Foreign Manifest along with the PPA handling permit and other required government permits to the ATI Safety Officer at least 24 hours before arrival. Dangerous cargoes are to be handled according to their classification and shall be transferred directly to the DCA unless otherwise required.
Yes, radioactive and explosive substances in categories 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 are excluded from storage within the port zone and must be delivered directly to consignee’s storage outside the port. Classes 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 explosives may be stored only in limited quantities with special attention and approval.
Violations are subject to the penalties prescribed under Section 43 of PD 857 and other pertinent provisions of law.
The container yard must have sufficient space for segregation of incompatible dangerous cargoes, safety signs and proper markings for different cargo classes, observe safe stacking and segregation according to the IMDG Code, and provide adequate emergency access and appropriate drainage systems.
ATI is required to submit a monthly report to the Philippine Ports Authority within the first week of the succeeding month indicating the number of dangerous cargoes in TEUs for full container loads and total tonnage for less container loads transferred to the Dangerous Cargo Area.
Special charges collected by ATI include P2,690 per TEU for containerized dangerous cargo, P184 per revenue ton for non-palletized LCL cargo, and P141 per revenue ton for palletized LCL cargo, in addition to premium charges under PPA Admin. Order No. 02-89.