News

The country's total cargo volume slumped 8.05% in 2008 to 144.76 million metric tons (mmt) from 157.43 mmt in 2007 primarily due to effects of the global financial meltdown, latest data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) showed.

Both foreign and domestic cargoes dropped from their year-ago levels due to the dismal performance of the country;s import and export sectors.

Volume was also negatively affected by the continuing volume decline at the Cagayan de Oro port- a significant 45.08% for 2008.

PortCalls
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The proposed transfer of certain powers from the Philippine Shipper's Bureau (PSB) to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) will be subjected to further scrutiny, according to Marina administrator Ma. Elena Bautista.

International carriers, through the Association of International Shipping Lines, said they are not entirely sold on the idea of transferring supervisory and regulatory control lines from PSB to Marina, Bautista said.

By Christopher C. Paringit, Reporter
Wednesday February, 25, 2009
PortCalls

Car imports could save the day for ship agents.

"The effects of the crisis on the country's car industry are still minimal compared to the US and Europe," Philippine Ship Agents Association (PSAA) president Abraham Tablizo said.

"This is one of the very few areas that we see growth amid the global financial crisis," Tablizo said in an interview at the sidelines of a thanksgiving party for the passage of Republic Act 9515 or the new Ship Agency Law.

Truckers heaved a collective sigh of relief after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) declared a status quo in the implementation of the new nationwide synchronized truck ban provided under Executive Order No. 712.
 
The truck ban of 6am to 9pm was to have been implemented within the month.
 
The DILG is now looking at the schedule more closely after receiving strong opposition from truckers, Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) president Col. Rodolfo De Ocampo told PortCalls.
 

Philippine imports posted a 16% increase in July on the back of the country’s high rice and oil importations.
 
July 2008 import receipts totaled $5.848 billion in the same month last year, latest data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed.
 
In contrast, exports for the same period grew less than 5%.
 

International freight forwarder U-Ocean, Inc is a believer in the adage that “where there’s crisis, there’s opportunity”. So where other companies fret over the continuing spike in fuel prices, the looming recession in major markets and foreign exchange fluctuations, U-Ocean is taking an optimistic view for 2009.
 
As it enters in 26th year in the industry, U-Ocean’s key thrust is the further development and enhancement of logistics services. To get ahead of the competition, operations and logistics director Martin P. Garcia told PortCalls.
 

LGC Logistics has formally launched its first container yard/ container freight station for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) locators in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON) areas.
 
Located in Carmelray Techno Park in Laguna, LGC Logistics offers complete logistics services, including stripping/ deconsolidation, consolidation, delivery to end-user, inventory management system, and domestic freight system.
 

LGC Logistics inaugurates the first Container Yard/ Container Freight Station (CY/CFS) inside PEZA in the ever growing Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon) in South Luzon where business grows by leaps and bounds.
 

FOR only the second time this year, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) breached its collection target, with August figures reaching P20.908 billion or P110 million more than projected.
 
The surplus cut the agency’s collection deficit to less than P12 billion for the first eight months of the year.
 
Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales said the collection may still be higher with other payments still being collated.
 

TANKER operators and oil companies are seeking deferment of the implementation of Republic Act 9483 or the Oil Pollution Compensation Act until new law is passed.
 
The Philippine Petroluem Sea Transport Association ( Philpesta ), Association of Tankers Owners of the Philippines ( Atophil ), and the “ Big 3” oil firms Shell , Chevron (Caltex) and Petron claimed RA 9483 was poorly crafted and will translate into higher shipping rates and prices in general.