Applicability
- The guidelines apply to all porterage operations across all ports in the Philippines.
Definitions
- Porterage Service: Manual or wheeled transport of passengers’ cargo, baggage, or personal belongings between points of embarkation/disembarkation and the port entrances/exits.
- Porterage Fee: Payment for porterage services covering carriage of baggage with or without pushcarts over specified distances.
- Bill of Lading: Written contract of carriage where a common carrier agrees to deliver goods from consignor to consignee.
Criteria for Determining Porterage Rates
- Rates are determined based on two factors:
- Weight of baggage (Small: up to 10 kgs, Medium: up to 25 kgs, Large: up to 50 kgs).
- Distance traveled from passenger point to port entrance/exit (distance slabs from 100 meters up to 500 meters).
- Port Managers recommend porterage rates per port/terminal.
- Rates must be approved by the Head Office before implementation.
- Charges are assessed on a per-piece basis.
Permit and Regulatory Fee Requirements
- Port Managers authorized to issue porterage operation permits valid for up to one year.
- Renewal requires clearance from Port District Manager.
- Longer permits require approval from AGM for Operations.
- Annual regulatory fee fixed at P1,000.00 per operator.
- Permit applicants must:
- Demonstrate administrative capability.
- Be a recognized entity (organization, association, cooperative).
- Be registered with SEC, Bureau of Domestic Trade, and SSS.
- Hold relevant local government and other agency permits.
Operational and Administrative Requirements
- Porterage service is strictly voluntary; passengers cannot be forced to avail of it.
- Operators must issue pre-numbered tickets with passenger coupon, porter’s receipt, and collection booth stub.
- Ticket must show porter man-number to identify responsible parties for baggage handling.
- Porters submit accumulated tickets daily to claim earnings.
- Vessel officers must announce availability of porterage services at prescribed rates pre-berthing.
- Porters must queue 10 meters from berth and only board ships via gang plank after chief porter clearance.
- Porterage rates must be posted conspicuously within vessel and port premises.
- Porters must wear prescribed uniforms, visible numbers, and ID cards.
- Provision of pushcarts is part of porterage services when needed.
- Operators must provide collection booths at pier entrance and exit.
- Operators liable for indemnifying losses or damages to baggage caused by negligence or imprudence of porters.
- Indemnity limited to baggage value; disputes settled by Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
- Baggage over one (1) ton per passenger covered by Bill of Lading and serviced by cargo handling contractors with corresponding charges.
- Baggage handled by porters is exempt from arrastre, stevedoring, or wharfage charges.
- Operators who also conduct cargo handling must keep separate accounting for porterage and cargo handling operations.
Penalty Provisions
- PPA may cancel or terminate porterage permits or contracts for violations of permit terms, port rules, or public interest concerns.
Effectivity
- The guidelines take effect immediately upon approval by the General Manager.