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Customs brokers and truckers will voluntarily stop work on Oct 5, followed by a separate trucking holiday by other trucker and port user groups on Oct 6
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The groups cite six issues: empty container returns, shipping line charges, a driver shortage, PAMI insurance, truck bans and fees, and the terminal booking system
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Joining is voluntary for members, and the groups say they are open to dialogue
Two port sector groups have announced back-to-back work stoppages next week. The Practicing Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PCBAPI) will hold a “rest day” on October 5. A coalition of truckers and port stakeholders will follow with a “trucking holiday” on October 6.
Both groups are protesting the same unresolved operational and regulatory problems in the country’s port and logistics sector.
The trucking holiday is led by the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, Aduana Business Club Inc., Inland Haulers and Truckers Association, and the Port Allied Logistics Group. In an October 2 statement, the groups named six issues they said are causing delays, raising costs, shrinking trucking capacity, and disrupting cargo movement.
PCBAPI has likewise asked its members to suspend operations voluntarily over the same issues.
Joining the trucking holiday is also voluntary for members.
The coalition said the holiday “is a collective call for immediate dialogue, concrete solutions, and coordinated action from government agencies, international shipping lines, port operators, and local government units [LGUs].” The groups added that they remain open to talks with all concerned parties.
Cargo pickups, deliveries, and customs processing may slow down on October 5 and 6, depending on how many members join. Importers, exporters, and forwarders should plan ahead for possible delays in clearance and container movement on both days.
The six issues
Empty container return. Too few empty container return slots are delaying trucks, raising operating costs, and adding to port congestion. The groups want shipping lines to provide enough return facilities and slots, with workable alternatives when designated facilities are unavailable.
Unregulated destination charges. Destination, handling, documentation, and other charges imposed by international shipping lines must be transparent, properly documented, and reasonable. The groups are calling for immediate industry consultation “to prevent unjustified and unexpected costs.”
Truck-trailer driver shortage. A shortage of qualified articulated-truck drivers is limiting cargo capacity and port operations. The groups urge the Land Transportation Office to address licensing, training, testing, and certification concerns so more drivers qualify, while keeping road-safety standards in place.
PAMI coverage for tractor-heads. CTAP wants tractor-head trucks removed from the passenger accident management insurance (PAMI) requirement for passenger vehicles, since tractor-heads carry cargo, not passengers. The groups urge the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to review the rule.
Truck bans and pass-through fees. More truck bans, route restrictions, and pass-through fees are adding costs and delays to port operations. The groups want a coordinated, uniform approach to truck rules along key port corridors. In 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 41, which bars LGUs from collecting pass-through fees on national roads and other roads they did not fund.
TABS at the Manila international terminal. Recurring problems with the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS), including appointment availability, truck access, waiting times, and turnaround, must be fixed immediately to keep cargo moving.
A recurring protest
Truckers and other port groups have organized port or trucking holidays over the years to press long-running industry concerns. Government, the private sector, and industry groups have also held several meetings on these issues.
Most recently, the Bureau of Customs has been drafting a joint administrative order to address port congestion, high logistics costs, and the long-standing problem of inefficient empty container returns.
READ: BOC targets signing of JAO addressing port congestion within September
