Manila Int'l Container Terminal congestion eases as 92% of unclaimed cargoes released —ICTSI

The port congestion at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) has already eased as most of the unclaimed cargoes which had piled up at the onset of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine in March have been released, the firm that manages the port said Thursday.

“Sa lahat ng pumasok ng kargamento from the time the ECQ started, 92% na ang lumalabas dito sa MICT,” International Container Terminal Services Inc.(ICTSI)  executive vice president Christian Gonzalez said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

Gonzalez said that cargo traffic and yard utilization at the port have returned to normal levels.

“Unang una, wala na tayong congestion issue dito. In fact, sa ngayon, walang naghihintay na barko so magandang balita ‘yon,” he said.

The ICTSI, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, and the Department of Trade and Industry, he said, have implemented a communication plan with concerned importers to urge them to withdraw their cargoes and ease port congestion.

“Nag-almost door-to-door kami sa mga important to again explain the problem in detail and ensure na naiintindihan nila na kailangan talagang ilabas ang kargamento kasi kung hindi nila ilalabas mapupuno ang terminal to the point na hindi na kami makaka kilos,” Gonzalez saiid.

“Because of this plan, because of the support ng mga government agencies and most importantly mga importer ay bumaba na sa normal levels yung utilization dito,” he added.

To recall, the Department of Transportation warned cargo owners and consignees that their cargoes may be forfeited if they fail to withdraw their containers to free up the already congested Manila ports. 

Gonzalez said the situation at the MICT has gone back to normal since last week.

“To the point na wala ng naghihintay na barko for quite some time at like I said mabilis ang pasok at labas ng barko,” he said. -MDM, GMA News