Guidelines in the Implementation of Community Quarantine in Luzon in All Ports under the Jurisdiction of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)

March 17, 2020

PPA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 010-20

 

This Circular is being issued pursuant to the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated March 16, 2020 entitled "Community Quarantine over the Entire Luzon and Further Guidelines for the Management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation" tasking all heads of departments, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the government to adopt, coordinate and implement said guidelines in the imposition of an Enhanced Community Quarantine and the Stringent Social Distancing Measures over the entire Luzon, including the National Capital Region (NCR), effective 00:00 (12 a.m.) of March 17, 2020 and expiring on 00:00 (12 a.m.) of April 13, 2020.

This Circular is also being issued in consonance with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Advisory dated March 16, 2020.

To ensure the unhampered movement of cargoes within, to and from the entire Luzon and the movement of accompanying crew or personnel of transiting cargoes in ports in Luzon under PPA's jurisdiction, the following guidelines shall be prescribed:

1. The issuance of Cargo Entry Withdrawal Permit (CEWP) under PPA Memorandum Circular No. 09-2020 is hereby SUSPENDED. Trucks carrying cargoes to and from ports in Luzon shall no longer be required to secure CEWP from PPA or Port Terminal Operators.

2. Ports 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 shall not be allowed entry in ports.

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

a. 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. HEITAD

b. 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.

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

4. Any of the existing transport documents such as Bill of Lading, Waybills, Delivery Orders/Receipts, Container Interchange Report, including electronic systems (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.

The foregoing shall be subject to further or subsequent recommendations or issuances of the Office of the President, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), DOTr, and concerned agencies.

PPA Memorandum Circular No. 09-2020 is hereby repealed. All issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby revised or modified accordingly.

This Memorandum Circular takes effect immediately.

(SGD.) JAY DANIEL R. SANTIAGOGeneral Manager