PPA maintains open access for Chinese cargo ships amid nCoV scare

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has maintained open access for cargo ships from China and its special administrative regions (SARs) despite the nCoV ARD scare, ensuring the continuity of international supply chains.

Crew members of any vessel that called in China or either of its SARs within 14 days before its arrival in the Philippines will be prohibited from disembarking.

Visitors will also be barred from boarding ships while they are docked in PPA-controlled ports or anchorages to minimize interaction with the crew.

The PPA's General Manager Jay Santiago emphasized that an entry ban would 'paralyze' the country's imports and exports, highlighting the reliance on Chinese ports for most Philippine trade.

If crew changes occur in the Philippines, the new crew members must undergo a strict quarantine period and can only return home after being cleared by the Department of Health.

Ships that arrive in the country more than 14 days after originating from a port in China or its regions will be allowed to dock without restrictions.

Approximately 83 percent of all cargoes that go to the Philippines emanate from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, according to PPA General Manager Jay Santiago.