The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII passed a resolution requesting the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to suspend the implementation of new tariffs in the Ports of Tacloban, Ormoc, and other ports in Eastern Visayas, during its Fourth Quarter 2021 Full Council Meeting on 10 December 2021.

It came as the port operator for the Port of Tacloban, Globalport Tacloban Terminal, Inc., imposed higher tariff rates on all vessels arriving in the city from 12 November onwards.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tacloban-Leyte, Inc. (PCCI) appealed for the RDC VIII to request PPA to suspend the implementation of the new tariff rates until the agency and Globalport conducts a thorough consultation with local stakeholders.

PCCI said that local businesses were not consulted in the imposition of the tariff rates. They argued that the new rates will only push prices in the region up, causing a negative impact on the regional economy already battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

RDC IX also passed a similar request to PPA to suspend the implementation of the new tariff rates in the port of Zamboanga City through Resolution No. 93 series of 2021, entitled “Requesting the Philippine Ports Authority to Suspend the Implementation of the New Tariffs in the Port of Zamboanga City.”

The Council hopes that the resolution will lead to tariffs agreeable to both parties as a result of a complete and thorough consultation.

Article and Photos by: Knulp Aseo