Legazpi City (CNN Philippines) — Based on the directives given by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Bicol, the Tabaco City port terminal, since August 1, has increased its terminal fee by 200 percent.
Passengers going to the island province of Catanduanes used to pay P10 each, but they are now being charged P30.
The terminal fee hike was already earlier opposed by Catanduanes Gov. Araceli Wong in behalf of the people who are going to their province daily, but the increase still took effect.
In her official statement, Wong said that mostly poor people avail of the services of the government-owned port terminal and now they are shouldering the additional burden.
However, the PPA said they need to impose the increase to augment the operational fund of the terminal and port facilities to deliver best services to the passengers. It added that the fund will also be used for environmental and marine ecology protection projects within port facilities.
Meantime, reports said that the legal officer of Catanduanes is now preparing all the documents needed to seek Temporary Restraining Order for the implementation of the terminal fee hike in Tabaco City port.
