Statement of Poro Point Management Corp.

Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC) issues this official statement in response to an article of Mr. Jarius Bondoc entitled : “Seaport ‘delihensiya’ make food, commodities costlier,” which was published in The Philippine STAR both in broadsheet and online platforms on June 9, 2023.

The Poro Point Freeport Zone is under PPMC, a government-owned and controlled corporation. There are two private port operators inside the Poro Point Freeport Zone: Poro Point Industrial Corporation (PPIC) and Soiltech Integrated Port Terminal Services, Inc. SIPTSI is a private pier.

In the issue at hand, MV Fugro Equator berthed at the pier of SIPTSI.

The charges on vessels and cargoes being enforced by PPMC at the pier of SIPTSI are adopted from the published rates of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). For an international vessel such as MV Fugro Equator, PPMC imposes Charges on Vessels which include port dues and dockage. MV Fugro Equator paid PPMC only P15,533.06 for such required fees.

For pilotage service, this is being handled by San Fernando Pilots Association Co. Pilotage fees being charged by harbor pilots also follow PPA published rates. MV Fugro Equator, through its shipping agent, paid directly to San Fernando Pilots Association Co. of which, 10 percent pertains to government share. Based on the computation provided by San Fernando Pilots Association Co., the total pilotage fee was P35,923.14, hence, PPMC’s computed share is P3,592.31.

Pilotage service is different from tugboat service. The latter is an ancillary service, which has no prescribed PPA rates. This is the case in all ports in the Philippines.

Tugboat service is not being handled by PPMC. PPMC does not have any contracted tugboat service provider. Polaris Top Marine Service Corp. is not a contractor of PPMC.

Availment of tugboat service is a transaction solely between the shipping agent and owner of the tugboat. In this case, it was EEAA Logistics and Allied Services, the shipping agent of MV Fugro Equator, which transacted with Polaris Top Marine Services Corp. PPMC had nothing to do with such a transaction. Nevertheless, an investigation why this matter occurred is ordered to be investigated.

We hope that this official statement clarifies the matter which is requested to be published too in The Philippine STAR. – Victoria Chloe V. Pulanco, Poro Point Management Corporation, Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union