Question & AnswerQ&A (CPA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 04, S. OF 2007)
The primary objective is to rationalize porterage rates, systems, and operational procedures in all ports of Cebu Province pursuant to Section 7(j) of RA 7621 and CPC Board Resolution No. 164-2007.
The regulation shall be applicable to all porterage operations in all ports of Cebu Province.
Porterage service refers to the carriage by manual handling and/or with the use of wheeled equipment like pushcarts of a passenger's hand-carried items, pieces of baggage, luggage, and personal belongings to/from the passenger's point of embarkation/disembarkation to/from entrance/exit gates of the port premises.
The porterage fee is the payment for the services rendered by a porter conveying the carriage of personal baggage, with or without pushcarts, to or from the passenger's point of embarkation/disembarkation to or from the entrance/exit gate of the port premises.
Fees are based on the weight of the item, the actual distance traveled by the porters, and the type of vessel being serviced.
All porterage service operators shall pay an annual regulatory fee of Php 3,000.00 excluding VAT.
Applicants must have administrative capability; be a duly recognized corporation/cooperative/association accredited by the concerned shipping company; be registered with SEC, CDA, or DOLE depending on their entity type; and possess licenses/permits from relevant government agencies including SSS.
No, the porterage service is purely voluntary. Passengers may opt not to avail of the service and shall not be forced to use porters without their consent.
Receipts must be pre-numbered and indicate the porterage business name, porter's name and number, quantity of baggage, and corresponding amount. They should be divided into three portions: passenger's coupon, porter’s copy, and collection booth retained copy.
Porters must wear prescribed uniforms with bold names and numbers on front and back, and their respective ID cards when inside the port.
The porterage service provider is liable for indemnity for losses or damages to baggage or other effects they handle, but the amount shall not exceed the value of the baggage in case of total loss or equivalent to loss sustained in partial cases.
No, pieces of baggage or luggage serviced by porters shall not be liable to any Arrastre, Stevedoring, or Wharfage charges.
The Cebu Port Authority reserves the right to cancel or terminate any existing porterage permit or contract if the porterage association or any porter violates the terms and conditions of the permit, CPA port rules, or if public interest so demands.
The order takes effect upon approval and after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.