The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is set to convene a meeting to urge shipping companies, pier officials and administrators of passenger terminal buildings (PTB) across Bohol to again implement the collection of terminal fees through ticket payments.

The proposal was raised after the Regional Development Council through a resolution called for the incorporation of the terminal fee into the ticket payment to do away with long lines for both payments.

According to PPA Tagbilaran manager Engr. James Gantalao, there was a previous agreement to implement the said measure but this did not materialize, particularly as ticketing outlets outside the ports were not complying.

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So far, only Supercat has been collecting terminal fees as part of ticket payments while other shipping lines including Ocean Jet halted its implementation of the procedure as it cited complications involving company policies and computer systems that handle payments, said Gantalao.

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The meeting is intended to swiftly settle the issue as more passengers start to pass through Bohol’s port terminals, he added.

The PPA official also noted that the measure’s re-implementation was also raised after several passengers complained against long lines for terminal fee payment. (AD)