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The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said stakeholders have committed to move 1,000 containers to Subic and Batangas within two weeks to free up space in Manila ports and yards
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This commitment was secured during a meeting convened by Cabinet secretary Benhur Abalos, the Bureau of Customs, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, with companies with aging containers, truckers, and port operators
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The containers will be collected by sweeper vessels in Subic and Batangas ports
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PCCI said it continues to work with government offices, port users, and other stakeholders to support other measures identified by the private sector
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said stakeholders have committed to move 1,000 containers to Subic and Batangas within two weeks to free up space in Manila ports and yards.
This commitment was secured during a meeting convened by Cabinet secretary Benhur Abalos, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority with companies with aging containers, truckers, and port operators, PCCI said in a statement on November 3.
The aging containers will be collected by sweeper vessels in Subic and Batangas ports, PCCI added.
“The commitment to move an additional 1,000 containers within two weeks is an encouraging first step,” PCCI president Ferdinand Ferrer said.
“PCCI is ready to help mobilize our members and industry partners so that these commitments lead to measurable improvements for businesses and consumers,” he added.
Addressing supply chain bottlenecks
PCCI said the “follow-through effort builds” on a separate stakeholder dialogue it initiated last October with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Supply Chain and Logistics Group, BOC, port and container-yard operators, shipping lines, truckers, customs brokers and importers and exporters.
The dialogue aimed to find urgent operational bottlenecks affecting the supply chain, specifically container yard capacity, empty container returns, port dwell times, and rising logistic costs.
READ: Manila port congestion may take months to clear: BOC
PCCI said the discussion identified immediate priorities to address issues on port and container yard congestion in Manila, including:
- freeing terminal space;
- facilitating the return of empty containers; and
- transferring eligible overstaying cargo to suitable off-dock facilities.
PCCI said it continues to work with government offices, port users, and other stakeholders to support these measures.
The group said it is also helping sustain private-sector engagement so that cargo owners, shipping lines, truckers, and facility operators can coordinate their participation in the clearing effort.
Supporting this is BOC’s recent directive to extend designated examination areas (DEA) schedules at Manila and other ports experiencing congestion, in anticipation of increased cargo volumes during the Christmas season.
In Office of the Commissioner Memo No. 118-2026 dated October 30, DEA operations will be extended from the regular schedule of 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to until 12:00 midnight, effectively immediately, “to facilitate the timely examination and clearance of shipments.”
PCCI said the extended schedule responds to truckers’ concern about arriving at the port at around 7 p.m., after regular examination hours.
The chamber said their arrival would now fall within the prescribed examination window, although actual processing and waiting times will still depend on operational conditions.
The memorandum directs district collectors to make the necessary operational arrangements and coordinate with relevant regulatory agencies to ensure their availability during extended examination hours.
PCCI said it welcomes the directive as a practical step toward better aligning cargo examination services with trucking schedules and keeping shipments moving beyond regular office hours.
Continued communications
Alongside the immediate clearing measures, PCCI said it is supporting continued discussions with shipping lines on the accumulation and evacuation of empty containers. Repositioning empties, expanding suitable storage capacity, and improving coordination across the logistics chain remain important to sustaining the initial gains, it added.
The chamber also supports the prompt transfer of eligible overstaying cargo and a review of storage charges to encourage timely withdrawal from port terminals. These measures were identified during its stakeholder dialogue as part of a broader effort to make better use of available terminal and off-dock space.
“These are important first steps, and we are grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for facilitating, and our government partners for their responsiveness,” Ferrer said. “With sustained cooperation, we can build on this momentum and work toward lasting improvements in our logistics system.”
PCCI also expressed its appreciation for various government agencies for their immediate action on the issue of Manila port congestion.
