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Trucking groups will meet Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. next week on port and trucking issues
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The groups ended their trucking holiday on October 8 after Abalos reached out
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They want action on six issues, including empty container returns, shipping line charges and the truck-trailer driver shortage
Trucking and port stakeholder groups are set to meet Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. next week to press for solutions to port congestion, rising costs and other problems disrupting cargo movement.
The meeting comes after Abalos reached out to the truckers, prompting the five groups to end their three-day “trucking holiday” on October 8.
READ: Manila ports ‘digital’ protest, trucking holiday end
Inland Haulers and Truckers Association (INHTA) President Teodorico Gervacio and Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) President Maria Zapata told PortCalls in separate phone interviews that the meeting was originally set for this week. It was moved to next week because Abalos wanted to meet the government agencies involved first.
Aside from INHTA and CTAP, the groups that joined the trucking holiday were Aduana Business Club Inc., Port Allied Logistics Group, and Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth Inc.
The groups have also started talks with other agencies. Gervacio said they met with Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Markus Lacanilao to raise concerns on the licensing of truck-trailer drivers and the traffic demerit system. Zapata said she also met with Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
The groups are calling for immediate dialogue, concrete solutions and coordinated action from government agencies, international shipping lines, port operators and local government units (LGUs). They say unresolved operational and regulatory problems are causing delays, raising costs, shrinking trucking capacity and disrupting cargo movement.
Six issues truckers want fixed
- Empty container returns. Too few return slots for empty containers are delaying trucks, raising operating costs and worsening port congestion. The groups want shipping lines to provide enough return facilities and slots, plus 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 want immediate industry consultation “to prevent unjustified and unexpected costs.”
- Truck-trailer driver shortage. A lack of qualified articulated-truck drivers is limiting cargo capacity and port operations. The groups urge the LTO to address licensing, training, testing and certification so more drivers can qualify, while keeping road-safety standards.
- PAMI coverage for tractor-heads. CTAP wants tractor-heads removed from the passenger accident management insurance (PAMI) requirement for passenger vehicles, since they 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. The groups want uniform, coordinated 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.
- Terminal Appointment Booking System problems. Recurring problems with appointment availability, truck access, waiting times and turnaround at Manila’s international terminals must be fixed immediately to keep cargo moving.
Gervacio added that implementation of the Anti-Overloading Law is another concern for truckers.
The Practicing Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines Inc. separately held a “digital protest and rest day” from October 5 to 7 over similar issues.
The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations, which chose dialogue with government agencies instead of joining the protest, said in an October 8 social media post that it had already met with Abalos. The group has appealed for Cabinet-level action on port congestion and rising logistics costs.
BOC enforcing 90-day container rule
Separately, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has drafted a proposed joint administrative order (JAO) to address port congestion, high logistics costs and the long-standing problem of slow empty container returns. Nepomuceno earlier said the JAO is ready for signing.
While waiting for the signing, Nepomuceno said BOC is strictly enforcing the 90-day dwell time for foreign containers to help ease the empty container problem. 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 or become subject to duties and taxes. Containers beyond 90 days are considered overstaying and are issued an assessment notice.
The Association of International Shipping Lines recently held a consultative dialogue with the Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc. on current operational concerns, particularly empty container returns. It also met with International Container Terminal Services, Inc. on operational concerns at the Manila International Container Terminal, aiming to identify practical measures to support efficient terminal operations and cargo movement.
