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The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport extended operating hours and added more personnel as part of measures to address delays in the processing and release of air shipments at the People’s Air Cargo & Warehousing Co., Inc. facility in Pasay City
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BOC-NAIA is also encouraging stakeholders to have their shipments released from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm
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Most releases only happen from 2 pm onwards and during weekends, leading to congestion during those hours
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BOC-NAIA created a Viber Group for stakeholders so it can follow up with Paircargo entries that remain unlocated
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The Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association has received numerous complaints from members regarding the delays
The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) has extended its operating hours and added more personnel as part of measures to address delays in the processing and release of air shipments at the People’s Air Cargo & Warehousing Co., Inc. (Paircargo) facility in Pasay City.
BOC-NAIA is also encouraging stakeholders to have their shipments released during early hours (7:00 am to 1:00 pm) “as we have observed that most releases only happen 2PM onwards, and during the weekends,” BOC-NAIA district collector Atty. Maria Yasmin Obillos-Mapa told PortCalls in a text message.
Paircargo is as of now the only customs bonded warehouses in NAIA, serving shipments of 31 carriers.
Mapa said they have extended their office hours to assess entries from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, including weekends.
She said they are in close coordination with Paircargo and stakeholders, and has created a Viber Group for stakeholders “so they can send all entries which remain unlocated for follow up with Paircargo.” Additional manpower has also been deployed to assist in the situation.
BOC-NAIA on June 8 conducted a local Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council meeting. The Paircargo team “clarified that storage fees may be waived for affected shipments, and that they are all hands on deck in locating the shipments,” Obillos-Mapa noted.
PortCalls sought comments from Paircargo but has yet to receive a response as of press time.
The Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc. (PMTLAI), in a letter to Paircargo dated June 3, said it received numerous concerns and complaints from its members regarding delays in the processing and release of air import shipments.
“We understand that the volume of shipments handled by your organization has significantly increased following the closure of PSI [Philippine Skylanders International, Inc.], which may have contributed to the current situation,” PMTLAI said. The PSI operation shut down after NAIA operator New NAIA Infrastructure Corp took over the premises to give way for redevelopment.
Given the impact of these delays on importers, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders in the supply chain, PMTLAI had requested for an update on the situation, including the challenges being encountered and the measures that have been implemented to address them.
“We would also like to know how PMTLAI and its members can assist in helping ease the situation and support efforts to improve the efficiency of cargo processing and release,” PMTLAI said.
In parallel, the association said it will be coordinating with BOC to explore possible measures and collaborative initiatives that may help improve the overall import clearance and cargo release process. – Roumina Pablo
