DESPITE getting the green light from the customs bureau to handle international cargoes, Manila North Harbor Port Inc. (MNHPI) still has to get a permit from the government’s port-regulatory agency.
This was the position of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) when sought to confirm an online report stating that the agency might intervene and require the Romero-led company to seek approval before it handles foreign cargo.
“Under their contract, they are only allowed to handle domestic cargo. They need to get our approval before they could handle international cargo, otherwise, they will be violating their concession contract,” the port body replied when sought for comment.
To recall, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) allowed the port operator to handle foreign ships and cargos in its 53-hectare port area in Tondo, Manila.
“The company is exposing itself. Once it handles international cargo, and violate its contract it may face a cancellation of its concession agreement,” the port body said.
North Harbor is owned by the PPA. The Romero-led company operates the port under a 25-year concession agreement with the government.
PPA sources said that MNHPI’s permit is only for domestic operations.
“Any operation not stipulated in the 25-year contract is a direct violation which will merit cancellation of [the MNHPI] contract with the PPA even if they are armed with a BOC permit,” a source said.
It said that before MNHPI took over the operation and management of North Harbor, the port had handled bulk and breakbulk foreign cargoes and had its own complement of customs offices since it is a subport of Manila International Container Port.
“Some of the offices were, however, transferred when MNHPI took over since, by then, the port no longer processed foreign cargoes, except for transhipments,” the source added.
On June 2 Lina signed Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 11-2016 and CMO 12-2016 effectively allowing MNHPI to handle foreign cargoes.