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The Practicing Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines has paused its “digital protest and rest day” from today, October 8, saying International Container Terminal Services Inc and Asian Terminals Inc. are now continuously accepting empty containers
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PortCalls could not verify the claim, but ATI data show Manila South Harbor truck trips stayed within the normal daily range since October 5
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PCBAPI’s main demand that foreign shipping lines evacuate their empties still stands
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The other protest — dubbed a trucking holiday and spearheaded by five truckers’ groups — also ends today
The Practicing Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PCBAPI) has temporarily withheld its “digital protest and rest day” starting October 8, 2026, saying its immediate demand for empty container acceptance is now being met.
In an advisory, PCBAPI said Manila port operators International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) are now continuously accepting the empty containers of foreign shipping lines for evacuation out of the country. This, the group said, is helping free up space in empty container yards.
PortCalls could not immediately verify the claim.
Manila South Harbor truck trips stay normal
It must be noted though that data provided by ATI to PortCalls show that truck transactions in Manila South Harbor have remained normal and within the average daily range since October 5.
- October 5 (Monday): 1,435 truck trips, with 756 import pull-outs and 679 export laden and empty receivals
- October 6 (Tuesday): 2,129 truck trips, with 1,102 import releases and 1,027 export laden and empty receivals
- October 7 (Wednesday): 2,530 truck trips, with 1,215 import releases and 1,315 export laden and empty receivals. The total was higher than the 2,400 truck trips on the same day last week.
Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) also said in an advisory that it remains open for all terminal transactions from October 6 to 8. “Customers may continue with their planned container pull-outs, deliveries, and other terminal transactions without disruption,” the advisory stated.
Bigger demand on foreign shipping lines remains
While it halts the protest, PCBAPI said its bigger demand remains: foreign shipping lines must evacuate their empty containers to free up yard space.
As part of the protest, PCBAPI had asked customs brokers to hold off on gate passes, Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) bookings, truck manifests and hauling until foreign shipping lines guarantee the immediate evacuation of empties.
Trucking holiday ends October 8
PCBAPI’s pause comes as a separate trucking holiday, which began on October 6, reaches its scheduled end on October 8. There is no update yet on a possible extension.
The groups behind it are:
- Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines
- Aduana Business Club Inc.
- Inland Haulers and Truckers Association
- Port Allied Logistics Group
- Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth Inc.
They are calling for immediate dialogue, concrete solutions and coordinated action from government agencies, international shipping lines, port operators and local government units. They cite unresolved operational and regulatory problems that they say are causing delays, raising costs, shrinking trucking capacity and disrupting cargo movement.
The groups identified six issues: empty container returns, unregulated destination charges, the truck-trailer driver shortage, the passenger accident management insurance requirement for tractor-heads, truck bans and pass-through fees, and the Terminal Appointment Booking System.
READ: Manila’s Cargo Crisis — When Sea and Air Feel the Squeeze
The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations is not joining any protest. It said it will pursue dialogue with government agencies instead.
BOC appeals for calm, readies joint order
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) earlier urged stakeholders to pursue “constructive engagement and prudent action” as it acknowledged concerns over empty container congestion and limited depot capacity.
BOC said it recognizes the operational challenges these issues pose to truckers, customs brokers, importers and exporters. While respecting stakeholders’ right to voice their views, it said any disruption to port operations may worsen existing challenges, affecting cargo movement, supply chains and the broader trading community.
BOC has also drafted a proposed joint administrative order (JAO) to address port congestion, high logistics costs and the long-standing problem of inefficient empty container returns. BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno earlier said the JAO is ready for signing.
READ: JAO on port issues up for secretaries’ signatures—Nepomuceno
Pending the signing, Nepomuceno said BOC is strictly enforcing the 90-day dwell time for foreign containers to help address the empty container concern. Under Customs Administrative Order 08-2019, foreign containers, whether loaded or empty, must be re-exported within 90 days from the discharge of the last package. Otherwise they are subject to duties and taxes. Beyond 90 days, they are considered overstaying and are issued an assessment notice.
