The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is looking for more ways to provide incentives to companies that will clear cargoes on weekends.
In addition, it is considering a 90% discount on berthing fees for vessels calling Batangas port to push a cargo shift from congested Manila to Batangas.
Government agencies PPA, the Department of Trade and Industry and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) urged shippers to withdraw and clear cargoes on weekends to greatly reduce congestion and traffic at Manila ports, initially brought about by the truck ban.
Extended work hours at PPA, the Bureau of Customs, banks and shipping lines meanwhile are also expected to help clear the backlog.
Shippers and consignees prefer to clear and withdraw cargoes on weekdays to avoid premium payment during weekends.
“While there is a premium to be paid in clearing and withdrawing of cargoes on Saturdays and Sundays, bigger savings will be recorded over time through faster delivery of goods and lower cost relative to demurrage and storage fees,” PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana said in a July 7 meeting between government agencies, port operators, international shipping lines and truckers.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is urging logistics stakeholders to take advantage of the organization’s agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for members to withdraw their shipments even on Sundays.
In a July 11 memo signed by PCCI president Alfredo Yao, he said PCCI members agreed to utilize Sundays for the release of their containers at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to “facilitate and address the congestion of ports.”
BOC has kept its operations at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port (MICP) open on weekends since June 28 to help decongest the ports.
The bureau’s weekend operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be in effect until further notice.
The Department of Finance on June 26 also issued Department Order No. 045-2014 directing its attached agency BOC, to extend operating hours at select ports to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in order to process Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) shipments.
Charo Logarta-Lagamon, chief of the BOC-Public Information and Assistance Division, observed, however, that only a few stakeholders are taking advantage of the extended operating hours, citing records indicating that only about seven entries were filed with MICP over the last weekend (July 5-6). – Roumina Pablo
