Philippines - Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Suspends Cargo Entry Withdrawal Permit Requirement

PPA Memorandum Circular No. 10-2020 (Guidelines in the Implementation of Community Quarantine in Luzon in All Ports Under the Jurisdiction of the Philippine Ports dated March 17, 2020 [4] suspends the requirement of a Cargo Entry Withdrawal Permit (CEWP) under PPA Memorandum Circular No 09-2020. Trucks carrying cargoes to and from ports in Luzon are no longer required to secure CEWPs from the PPA or Port Terminal Operators.

The Circular clarifies that ports in Luzon under the PPA’s jurisdiction shall continue to be open to cargo ships, provided that there will strictly be no embarkation/disembarkation of crew, and subject to the requirements of the Bureau of Quarantine/Department of Health. All passenger ships will not be allowed entry in ports.

Trucks carrying cargoes coming from any port in Luzon will be subject to the following protocols:

1. Trucks carrying cargoes from one port to another port in Luzon which will not require traversing a body or bodies of water shall be allowed continuous access to and from said ports. Carrying of empty containers for withdrawal or repositioning shall also be ensured continuous entry to and from the ports and inland container yards/depots.

2. Trucks carrying cargoes which will require traversing a body or bodies of water, or from one island to another, shall be required to unload the cargoes in the next port of call and transfer the same to another truck or vehicle; or, in the alternative, engage a different driver and a maximum of two helpers provided by the trucking company/shipper/consignees for the continued voyage of the trucks and cargoes to their final destination.

3. In all cases, truck drivers and helpers shall be subjected to strict health screening at the port/s before they will be allowed to enter or leave the port and proceed to their subsequent or final destination.

Any of the existing transport documents such as Bills of Lading, Waybills, Delivery Orders/Receipts, Container Interchange Report, including electronic systems (i.e., TABS, G2G, B2B, B2G, mobile messaging/receipts) shall serve as port entry/exit documents for inspection and verification by land, maritime and health security authorities.


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