PASAY CITY, Philippines — 10 September 2026 — The Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc. (AISL), and the World Shipping Council (WSC) held a dialogue conference on the Draft 2026 Joint Administrative Order (JAO), reinforcing their shared commitment to policies that are balanced, practical, and responsive to the needs of Philippine trade. The dialogue conference was organized by AISL.
The government delegation included senior Bureau of Customs officials and Atty. Verlin Entena of the Department of Finance, together with representatives of the World Shipping Council, AISL officers, and top executives from AISL member shipping lines.
Representatives of some of AISL member lines were in attendance: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk, CMA CGM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen, Pacific International Lines (PIL), Regional Container Lines ,(RCL), FESCO and Kanway Lines.
AISL President Patrick Ronas welcomed the participants and thanked the government and industry representatives for contributing their time, expertise, and operational experience to the discussion.
The BOC delegation was led by Deputy Commissioner Agaton Teodoro Uvero of the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, who provided an update on the Draft JAO and the succeeding stages of the regulatory process.
WSC Managing Director for Asia Kenneth Chia shared an international perspective on regulatory frameworks and global shipping practices. WSC currently has a membership of 24 container lines lines operating approximately 90% of the world’s liner vessel services and transporting more than USD 4 trillion worth of goods annually.
AISL formally presented the BOC with a clause-by-clause matrix identifying provisions of high priority concerns to the international shipping industry. The submission consolidated the concerns, rationale, and proposed positions of AISL and WSC, supported by conditions experienced in actual port, vessel, and container operations.
The discussion covered the treatment of commercial shipping charges, regulatory reporting, empty-container returns, container deposits, security arrangements, timelines, cost allocation, and penalties. AISL and WSC recommended clear and proportionate requirements, appropriate confidentiality safeguards, and sufficient flexibility to reflect differences in routes, services, cost structures, and commercial arrangements.
AISL also explained the continuing operational pressure caused by high yard utilization, slow import-container withdrawals, and controlled empty container acceptance. Shipping lines took the initiative to deploy six sweeper vessels to evacuate empty containers from Manila and Subic and have shouldered the related vessel and trucking costs. AISL reiterated its request for a moratorium on the 90-day container dwell-time rule while these constraints persist.
AISL and WSC emphasized that the final JAO should recognize the legitimate interests and responsibilities of all supply-chain participants and consider circumstances reasonably within each party’s control. AISL welcomed the BOC’s openness to dialogue and looks forward to continued engagement toward a final measure that is clear, balanced, fair to all stakeholders, and supportive of efficient customs administration and reliable maritime services.
