Business groups in Cebu are urging the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to defer the proposed 25-percent increase in domestic cargo-handling tariffs, warning that a significant rise in logistics costs could further burden businesses and consumers amid slowing economic growth and elevated operating expenses.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) said it supports the modernization, efficiency, safety and financial sustainability of Cebu’s ports, but maintained that the proposed adjustment should not be implemented immediately without sufficient justification, a clear assessment of its impact and meaningful consultation with affected stakeholders.
‘A 25-percent increase is significant,’ CCCI said, noting that the proposed hike could raise logistics and distribution costs, with possible consequences for the cost of doing business and, ultimately, consumer prices.
The chamber recommended that implementation be deferred while the CPA conducts a comprehensive review and consultation process.
Should an adjustment eventually be deemed necessary, CCCI said it should be ‘reasonable, proportionate, transparent’ and preferably calibrated or phased to minimize its impact on businesses and consumers.
The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), likewise, raised concerns over the timing of the proposed increase, as businesses contend with weaker market demand, higher operating costs, rising wages and fuel prices, as well as risks associated with the expected El Niño.
MCCI said domestic cargo handling is critical to an archipelagic economy such as the Philippines, facilitating the movement of goods between islands through inter-island and roll-on/roll-off shipping.
It warned that higher cargo-handling charges could ripple through the supply chain, affecting manufacturers, traders, distributors and retailers before eventually reaching consumers through higher prices.
The chamber also pointed to the Philippine economy’s weak 2.3-percent growth in the second quarter of 2026, saying the timing of a substantial tariff adjustment warrants closer scrutiny.
MCCI said the CPA and other stakeholders should determine whether the proposed increase is timely and necessary and assess its possible implications for business competitiveness, inflation and the overall cost of doing business in Cebu.
For its part, MCCI said it would first need to review the proposal in detail, including its justification, cost structure and projected effects on businesses and consumers, while continuing discussions with relevant stakeholders.
The CPA, in an advisory, said the proposed adjustment would apply to domestic cargo in all ports of Cebu. However, it clarified that it will not yet implement it.
‘The authority has made no final decision on the proposed increase since CPA will have to consolidate the position papers and feedback from port stakeholders to be evaluated thoroughly before it is presented to the CPA Board,’ CPA said in a separate statement released on Friday afternoon, Aug. 14, 2026.
Interested stakeholders were invited to submit position papers through the CPA’s Port Management Department the latest on Aug. 25, 2026.
‘CPA assures all port stakeholders that the proposed tariff increase will undergo an appropriate and thorough review and deliberation before any decision on its approval or implementation is made,’ CPA added.
The proposed tariff adjustment comes as businesses continue to grapple with logistics costs, making the consultation a key venue for stakeholders to weigh the need for higher port charges against the broader impact on Cebu’s business environment and consumers.
CCCI said it remains committed to working with the CPA toward a sustainable port system that maintains efficient operations while keeping the cost of moving goods competitive.