Some truckers and brokers began an indefinite trucking holiday on August 11 in protest of the Manila City government’s pronouncement it will apprehend even trucks holding a provisional authority (PA) to operate.
In a manifesto, the Aduana Business Club, Inc. (ABC) and Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO) are asking for an immediate solution to the “worsening” port congestion at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Manila South Harbor.
Samson Gabisan, director of ABC, said the strike was triggered by the Manila City’s announcement it will still stop trucks that have been issued with PAs by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
A PA to operate valid until October 17 is being given to trucks with green plates so they can continue to ply metro roads pending their application for a franchise.
The protesters claimed that the “big stakeholders” are turning their backs on the congestion problem, including the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), terminal operators, foreign shipping lines, City of Manila, Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
They said the port agency is “not taking action” but is instead allowing foreign shipping lines to continue storing their empty boxes inside the ports, making congestion worse.
The group also denounced foreign shipping lines for imposing high surcharges, and accused Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI)—operator of Manila South Harbor—for allegedly turning a blind eye on gate guards taking money in exchange for allowing entry of empty containers into the port despite earlier statements these were now off-limits.
Andrew Hoad, executive vice president of ATI, said at a press conference in PPA that bribery is “unacceptable,” and that the port operator “will stop” any such practice from taking place at South Harbor.
The group also lambasted the City of Manila for imposing the truck ban, and scored the BOC and BIR for aggravating the problem with new accreditation rules that importers and brokers find complicated and time-consuming.
Abraham Rebao, auditor of ABC, said the indefinite strike will only stop once the national government intervenes in the congestion problem.
The strikers, who formed a mass in front of the PPA main office and BOC main building in Port Area Manila, also asked brokers going into the BOC main building to stop filing import documents.
Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla said the strike will not help decongest Manila ports.
At the press conference, PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana said truck movement at both terminals is “normal.”
New MICP general manager Mohamed Ghandar said it is “business as usual” at the terminal. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
