There have been varied interpretations of the rules and regulations on ro-ro transport operations and rates prescribed in PPA Administrative Order No.-05-95, as amended by PPA AO No 07-98, and further amended by PPA Operations Memorandum Order No. 02-2000. Pending the finalization of the agreement on the updated regulations and handling fees for ro-ro cargoes among the shipowners, cargo handling operators and shippers/consignees, which is the subject to the on-going workshops in Manila and Cebu, the following clarifications are hereby issued.

1.         SCOPE - This Memorandum Circular shall cover all domestic ro-ro cargoes loaded/discharged to/from Ro-Ro vessels that-call at government ports operated by cargo handlers with expired cargo handling contracts or new cargo handling contracts/permits to operate issued on or after the issuance of PPA AO 05-95.

2.         DEFINITION OF TERMS

2.1    RO-RO Vessel - a vessel having the capacity to permit the horizontal mode of transferring cargoes from the pier/wharf to the vessel or vice versa, through the use of a ship or shore-based ramps over the side, at the bow or at the stern of the ship.

2.2    RO-RO Cargo - a unitized cargo capable of being loaded into or unloaded from a RO-RO vessel, using its own wheels and motive power, or being towed or drawn by a temporary handling equipment.

2.3    RO-RO Self-Propelled or Pure RO-RO - vehicles of any type (private, cargo or passenger) empty or loaded, are driven on their own power into or out of the RO-RO vessel without rehandling at the pier/wharf or grounding on board the vessel.

2.4    CHA-RO - chassis or trailers, empty or loaded with cargo, whether breakbulk, unitized, palletized or containers, are towed or wheeled into or out of the roro vessel by means of a prime mover, tractor or tow motor, without cargo rehandling, shifting or grounding on vessel and where no other cargo handling is rendered except lashing or unlashing.

2.5    STO-RO - conventional, unitized, palletized cargoes or containers which are carried from the apron and stowed into RO-RO vessel or out of the RO-RO vessel to apron or waiting truck, by means of a forklift or similar wheeled equipment. The forklift provides the temporary mobile system for such cargo.

3.         CLARIFICATIONS

3.1    The rates under PPA Operations Memo Order No. 02-2000, which are hereby reiterated, shall continue to remain in force and effect:

3.1.1    RO-RO Self-Propelled

	Rate/Vehicle
Private Vehicle (non-cargo/non-passenger)	15.00
Cargo/Passenger Jeep (Loaded or Empty)
4 wheeler	41.00
6 wheeler	81.00
Cargo Truck/Passenger Bus (Loaded or Empty)
6 wheeler	153.00
10 wheeler	308.00
14 wheeler	357.00
16 wheeler and above	409.00
Heavy equipment	473.00

The rate of P15.00 for private vehicle shall be applied only if the driving of the same or out of the ro-ro vessel is done by the owner/driver himself. In the event that the responsibility of driving the vehicle is turned over to the cargo handler, the rate of P41.00 for wheeler cargo/passenger jeep shall be imposed.

3.1.2    CHA-RO

3.1.2.1    Container/s mounted on chassis or trailer:

		HANDLING Fee
	Basis	Loaded	Empty
Below 10 footer	Per box	74.00	22.00
10 footer	Per box	147.00	45.00
Over 10 to 20 footer	Per box	296.00	119.00
Over 20 to 35 footer	Per box	517.00	207.00
Over 35 to 40 footer	Per box	593.00	238.00

3.1.2.2    Conventional cargo (breakbulk, palletized or unitized, live animals, iron and steel products, etc.) loaded on trailers and towed in/out of the Ro-Ro vessels:

These cargoes shall be charged seventy-five percent (75%) of the arrastre rate for non-palletized cargo in the existing tariff for conventional cargo based on the gross weight.

3.1.2.3    Empty Chassis/Trailers - These cargoes shall be charged fifty (50%) of the arrastre rate in the existing tariff for conventional cargo.

3.1.3    STO-RO

3.1.3.1    Container/s mounted on chassis or trailer:

		HANDLING Fee
	Basis	Loaded	Empty
Below 10 footer	Per box	74.00	22.00
10 footer	Per box	147.00	45.00
Over 10 to 20 footer	Per box	296.00	119.00
Over 20 to 35 footer	Per box	517.00	207.00
Over 35 to 40 footer	Per box	593.00	238.00

3.1.3.2    Conventional cargo (palletized or unitized) discharged from trailer and stowed on the wharf or vice-versa:

These cargoes shall be charged 75% of the arrastre rate for palletized cargo in the existing tariff for conventional cargo.

The above rates are applicable on all ro-ro cargoes provided the operations are within the definitions as stated in PPA Administrative Order No. 05-95 and reiterated under Item 2 hereof. Deviations from the ro-ro concept as herein defined shall not require the cargo handler to stick to the above-mentioned ro-ro rates, specially so when the work already requires some form of lo-lo operations.

3.2          The principle of "no work, no pay" means that no amount or fee shall be collected by the cargo handler if he does not render any service at all because there is no need for such service. It may also be applied if the authorized cargo handler in a government port fails to provide the necessary equipment or gang of laborers to perform cargo-handling work.

The above principle does not apply to a situation where the cargo handling operator should perform the work but the ship owners/consignees prefer to do the cargo handling themselves.

3.3          The authority has taken cognizance and shall continue to respect the special arrangements between the authorized cargo handling operators and the shipping lines/cargo owners relative to ro-ro handling fees which are higher/lower than those prescribed in PPA Operations Memo Order No. 02-2000, provided the government share will not be prejudiced.

4.         REPEALING CLAUSE - All PPA issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended.

5.         EFFECTIVITY - This Circular shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until revoked or amended.

Adopted: 10 Nov. 2000

(SGD.) JUAN O. PE A
General Manager