Port Authorities Settle Rows in Use of Matnog Port

Legazpi City (16 August) -- The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Management Office here has finally addressed with the issuance of Operational Memorandum No. 01 series of 2010 the problem of 14 roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) ferry vessels that regularly and almost simultaneously vie for the only three berths at the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon province.

Port Manager Atty. Francisquiel Mancile bared that the directive was an offshoot of the agreements among shipping line operators, PPA, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and STASCO in their July 7, 2010 meeting.

Mancile furthered that at the heart of the issuance is PPA's concern for the welfare of the riding public.

The directive has emphasized that Ramp 2 of the port is now designated only for arriving vessels actually giving harbor to arriving passengers as soon as they can be accommodated from the perils of the sea.

Also, the issuance attempts to regulate the unreasonable competition among the shipping lines in loading cargoes by leveling their utilization of Ramps 1 and 3 of the port.

Mancile recalled the round-the-clock operations of the port then made it difficult for PPA to address the problem foremost on the delayed disembarkation of passengers and discharging of RORO vehicles.

"Yet, on the advent of the directive, PPA PMO Legazpi City is gradually achieving positive results since the issuance was implemented last July 27, 2010," he observed.

The port manager added that these vessels are being reintroduced to the general rule of "first come-first served" basis in determining berthing priorities of vessels; designation of a dedicated berth to arriving vessels solely for the purpose of passenger disembarkation and cargo discharging; and allocation of a 2-hour maximum time to any vessel allowed to berth for loading operations.

The new directive which earned good reviews from the majority of shipping line operators at Matnog Port is being closely monitored by this dispensation. (PIA V)