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The Bureau of Customs offices at Manila ports ordered the immediate pullout of over 7,000 containers that have been paid as of June 30, including 78 that have been in the yard for more than 30 days
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The Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila issued a notice for consignees to immediately claim 6,931 containers
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BOC-Manila International Container Port issued a final notice to pull out 78 containers, including some that have been in the yard for over a year
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Failure to claim imported goods within 30 calendar days from payment of the assessed duties, taxes, fees, interests and other charges will result in the shipment being deemed abandoned, unless covered by a duly issued alert order
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) offices at Manila ports have ordered the immediate pullout of over 7,000 containers that have been paid as of June 30, including 78 that have been in the yard for more than 30 days.
The BOC-Port of Manila (POM) issued a notice for consignees, with an attached 174-page list, to immediately claim 6,931 containers that have BOC Online Release System (OLRS) dates of payment ranging from June 2 to 30, 2026. There are two other containers in the list that did not have other information, except for their container numbers.
Of the total, 27 consignees have more than 50 containers. Some of the companies with the biggest number of containers include: House Technology Industries Pte. Ltd. (117), Union Galvasteel Corp. (116), Primeeight Consumer Goods Trading (102), Altas Industrial Companias Amicales Ent., Inc. (100), Arnn Rose Furniture Trading (92), Brighter Hardware and Construction (92), and Chain Glass Enterprises Inc. (92).
In a separate final notice issued by the BOC-Manila Internation Container Port (MICP), it identified 78 containers that have been more than 30 days in the yard, with the oldest arriving as far back as 2025. The containers arrived on various dates starting from June 8, 2025 to May 1, 2026, and with OLRS dates starting from June 10, 2025 to May 30, 2026.
The consignees with the most number of containers in the list were: The Purefoods Hormel Company Inc. (11) and the Department of Transportation (12).
Under Customs Administrative Order No. 17-2019, failure to claim imported goods within 30 calendar days from payment of the assessed duties, taxes, fees, interests and other charges will result in the shipment being deemed abandoned, unless covered by a duly issued alert order.
READ: BOC order sets process for handling abandoned imported goods
Unclaimed imported goods are those still inside the port premises or warehouse 30 calendar days after clearance by the BOC through its OLRS or similar system.
The district collector concerned should issue a notice to claim imported goods to the owner, importer, consignee or interested party within five calendar days upon full payment.
Aside from these recent notices, BOC-POM and BOC-MICP, like other BOC collection districts, do regularly post notices to claim as well as reminders to lodge goods declaration for shipments that have been discharged but a corresponding goods declaration has not yet been lodged/filed.
The latest notices though, come as BOC issued a June 19 dated memorandum to BOC-POM and BOC-MICP ordering the immediate adoption of three measures – the transfer of overstaying laden containers, expedited assessment and processing of shipments, and deployment of sweeper vessels – to address high yard utilization and improve cargo movement in Manila international terminals.
READ: BOC orders 3 immediate measures to decongest Manila terminals
“Delays in the release and withdrawal of laden containers further contribute to congestion and reduce available terminal capacity, resulting in a domino effect on port operations and cargo flow. Recognizing that overstaying laden containers occupy valuable terminal space and reduce yard capacity, it is necessary to implement immediate measures to improve port operations, facilitate cargo movement, and maintain optimal yard utilization,” the memo said.
The measures are the latest interventions of BOC to address high yard utilization at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), which is under BOC-MICP, and Manila South Harbor, under BOC-POM.
Early this year, MICT and Manila South Harbor have experienced high yard utilization rates reaching more than 100% due to “a convergence of seasonal, operational, and logistical factors observed since mid-December of last year”. The situation has improved since March, but utilization started hitting higher again in the latter part of April.
READ: Manila’s Cargo Crisis — When Sea and Air Feel the Squeeze
BOC last March said it is looking to develop a comprehensive strategy to address port congestion, incorporating both operational and policy interventions.— Roumina Pablo
