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Cargo releasing operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport have improved following the establishment of additional staging areas and other initiatives implemented by both the Bureau of Customs-NAIA and cargo handler People’s Air Cargo & Warehousing Co., Inc.
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According to Paircargo, all backlog cargoes that arrived in May have been “accounted for with some releases (still) pending” while the June backlog is being worked on
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BOC-NAIA district collector Maria Yasmin Mapa confirmed that the situation is now under control, with the target of eliminating all remaining backlog by the end of July
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Authorities aim is to take advantage of the traditionally lower cargo volumes during August, known also as the ‘ghost month’ to normalize the flow of releases before the peak ‘ber’ months
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Paircargo reported that it added three temporary staging areas approximately two weeks ago, and has been using parking slots at the Duty Free area as a processing site
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In addition, the company has contracted a warehouse at the Duty Free area, which has been approved by BOC for import cargo storage and releasing activities. The facility is awaiting final clearance before full utilization
Cargo releasing operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have improved following the addition of staging areas and other initiatives by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-NAIA and cargo handler People’s Air Cargo & Warehousing Co., Inc. (Paircargo).
Paircargo told PortCalls that all backlog cargoes arriving in May have already been “accounted for, with some releases still pending.” The company added that work continues on the June backlog, but overall releases have accelerated.
Between June 22 and July 19, Paircargo received nearly 11 million kilograms of air shipments and released about 10.3 million kilograms during the same period. The company emphasized its goal of consistently releasing more cargo than it receives daily to fully eliminate the backlog.
In a separate interview with PortCalls, BOC-NAIA District Collector Maria Yasmin Mapa confirmed that the situation is now under control. She said the target is to clear all backlog by the end of July, taking advantage of the traditionally slower “ghost month” of August to normalize release flows before volumes rise again during the peak “ber” months.
READ: BOC-NAIA extends work hours to address shipment delays at Paircargo
The improvement comes as Paircargo added three temporary staging areas approximately two weeks ago, and has been using the parking slots at the Duty Free area as a processing site.
Paircargo also contracted the warehouse at the Duty Free area, which was approved by BOC for import cargo storage and releasing activities. The company said it is just waiting for clearance to finally use the warehouse, which will provide more space to process cargoes.
The cargo handler is also hoping to finally start construction of a new cargo terminal beside NAIA Terminal 3, a project that it won the bidding for in 2013 but awarding of which has been delayed since. Following mediation, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Paircargo executed a compromise agreement for the project’s implementation, which the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasay City judicially approved. Paircargo recently moved for the issuance of a writ of execution from RTC Pasay, which the court granted.
READ: After a decade of delays, Paircargo pushes to build new NAIA cargo terminal
Paircargo earlier said it “stands committed to build and complete the new NAIA cargo terminal at the soonest possible time” once MIAA provides “the cooperation it contractually and judicially committed to give.”
Aside from additional spaces, Paircargo continues to implement a 24-hour daily cargo releasing, while BOC-NAIA has deployed more personnel and extended its operating hours from 8 am–5 pm, Monday to Friday, to 7 am–9 pm daily including weekends.
It also hopes more clients will take advantage of weekends to release their cargoes. To encourage weekend releases, Paircargo is providing a one-day free storage for Saturday releases and two-day free storage for Sunday releases.
In addition, BOC-NAIA and Paircargo continue to closely coordinate with stakeholders, creating a Viber group to provide updates.
READ: SEIPI coordinating with gov’t, Paircargo to speed up release of critical shipments
The congestion at Paircargo’s facility traces back to the collapse in warehouse capacity following the closure of Philippine Skylanders International’s (PSI) facility after NAIA operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) reclaimed its premises for redevelopment following its 2024 takeover of the airport. With PSI gone — and Miascor having been shuttered since 2018 — Paircargo and Cargohaus are now the only customs bonded warehouses serving multiple carriers at NAIA. Paircargo, which handles roughly 70% of NAIA’s air cargo by virtue of its direct ramp access, has borne the brunt of the resulting volume surge.
READ: Manila’s Cargo Crisis (Part 1): When Sea and Air Feel the Squeeze
Manila’s Cargo Crisis (Part 2): Capacity Crunch at the Airport
Manila’s Cargo Crisis (Part 3): What Needs to Happen
BOC recently said it formed a dedicated technical working group and task force to tackle the cargo congestion that has been gripping Manila’s major seaports and NAIA.— Roumina Pablo
