Republic Act No. 2369

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

Section twenty-nine hundred and six of Republic Act Numbered Nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2906. Vessels in Philippine Coastwise Trade-Ports with cargo sheds. -Every vessel propelled by steam or internal combustion engine and engaged in the Philippine coastwise trade, including barges and lighters towed by such vessels, excepting boats of five tons gross or less or pleasure or non-commercial craft, which berths at a pier, wharf, bulkhead-wharf, river or channel marginal wharf at any national port in the Philippines provided with cargo sheds or which makes fast to any vessel at such wharf, or pier, for the purpose except when in distress, shall pay a berthing fee of two centavos per registered gross ton of the vessel for the first twenty-four hours or part thereof and one centavo per registered gross ton for each succeeding twenty-four hours or part thereof: Provided, That vessels with registered gross tons in excess of one thousand tons shall pay of the first one thousand tons two centavos per registered gross ton and one centavo for each succeeding tonnage for the first twenty-four hours or part thereof; and one-half of the foregoing rates for each succeeding day or part thereof: Provided, further, That the maximum charge shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five pesos for the first day and seventy-five pesos for each succeeding day or part thereof nor shall the minimum charge be less than fifteen pesos for the first day and seven pesos for each succeeding day or part thereof: Provided, still further, That vessels subject to berthing fees as herein prescribed, of less than one hundred gross tons, shall be subject to a minimum charge of not less than four pesos for the first day and two pesos for each succeeding day or part thereof."

Section 2

Section twenty-nine hundred and seven of Republic Act Numbered Nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2907. Same— Port without cargo shed. -Every vessel propelled by steam or internal combustion engine and engaged in coastwise trade including barges and lighters towed by such vessels, which berths at a pier, wharf, bulkhead-wharf, river or channel marginal wharf without a cargo shed at any national port, or which makes fast to any vessel lying at such wharf or pier for any purpose, except those specifically exempted in the preceding subsection, shall pay a berthing fee of one centavo per registered gross ton of the vessel for the first twenty-four hours or part thereof, and one-half centavo per registered gross ton of the vessel for each succeeding twenty-four hours or part thereof: provided, That vessels with registered gross tons in excess of one thousand tons shall pay on the first one thousand tons one centavo per registered gross ton and one-half centavo for each succeeding tonnage for the first twenty-four hours or part thereof; and one-half of the foregoing rates for each succeeding day or part thereof: Provided, further, That the maximum charge shall not exceed thirty-seven pesos and fifty centavos for the first day and fifteen pesos for each succeeding day or part thereof, nor shall the minimum charge be less than four pesos for the first day and two pesos for each succeeding day or part thereof: Provided, still further, That vessels subject to berthing fees as herein prescribed, of less than one hundred gross tons, shall be subject to a minimum charge of not less than two pesos for the first day and one peso for each succeeding day or part thereof."

Section 3

Section thirty-two hundred and two of Republic Act Numbered Nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3202. Vessels engaged in foreign trade. -There shall be collected at all ports and places in the Philippines from any vessel engaged in foreign trade coming to the Philippines from a foreign port or going to a foreign port from the Philippines, twenty-five centavos per net as expressed in her certificate of registry, or seventy centavos per thousand kilograms of articles discharged or laden in Philippines ports, at the option of the master or the consignees of the vessel.

"The option herein granted shall be exercised before the vessel departs from her first port of call."

Section 4

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 20, 1959.