Subic has space for 7,000 container vans, can decongest Manila ports – SBMA

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and director Roberto Garcia said the port of Subic is willing to accommodate around 7,000 container vans congesting Manila ports.

“Para makatulong naman sa mga negosyante namin dito sa Subic at Central Luzon, sabi namin, bakit hindi kaya gamitin muna ang aming container port bilang storage area dahil under-utilized po ang container port namin at kasyang-kasya ang 7,000 container vans dito,” Garcia said in a phone patch interview aired on GMA News TV's “Quick Response Team”.



Garcia however clarified that SBMA is willing to accommodate the empty container vans but not cargo from various ships coming from Manila.

“Ang problema diyan sa Maynila ay hindi na sila makapag-baba ng cargo dahil wala nang space na paglalagyan dahil marami pong empty containers po dun..So, this is mainly for the empty container vans and cargoes destined for Central Luzon,” Garcia said.

Subic as port of entry for Central Luzon

“Imbes na makadadag pa sila sa traffic diyan sa Maynila, dapat yung cargo for Central Luzon, iderestso na nila dito,” he added.

He said they have long been proposing to the DOTC and the Philippione Ports Authority that the SBMA be the port of entry of cargo destined for Central Luzon.

“Actually, matagal na naming pinro-propose yan. Dahil we have the capacity. Ang capacity po ng port namin 600,000. Ang nagiging problema kasi yung mga exporter at importer ng Central Luzon sanay na sanay na sa Manila, so since walang volume dito, e di walang malalaking ship na nagpupunta,” Garcia said.

He said that aside from the ports capacity, shipping cost in SBMA is relatively cheaper.

“Marami kaming importer at exporter na mga Japanese companies, Taiwanese companies na kailangang kailangan makagamit ng Port of Subic. Mas mura ang shipping fee dito, walang truck ban, 24 hours ang operation at walang baha, so marami talagang benefits,” Garcia said. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News