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Manila ports congestion nearly 100% of maximum capacity – Trade chief Domingo
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As the government scrambles to impose new measures to ease the port congestion in Manila, a Cabinet official revealed that the ports are nearing maximum capacity as the container yards of South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal combined are 98.76 percent full.
"Ang capacity niyan (Manila ports) is about 81,000 containers or TEU. [Ngayon,] ang nandun is malapit na sa 80,000 containers. So, halos 100 percent na," Trade Secretary Gregory told reporters on Wednesday at the sidelines of the budget hearing at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Some three months ago, the yard utilization at the Manila International Container Terminal and the Manila South Harbor breached the maximum capacity by piling 99,000 TEUs or twenty-foot equivalent units which occupied about 105 percent of total capacity.
The port congestion was blamed on the daytime truck ban from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. imposed by the City of Manila, which prohibited eight-wheeler trucks and bigger vehicles from plying through the main thoroughfares.
However, Domingo claimed the port situation is now improving, citing new government policies.
"'Yung sitwasyon sa ports nag-improve na," he said adding that the port now processes 8,000 to 9,000 TEUs a day compared with only about 3,000 TEUs.
"Ang problema lang 'ber months' na ngayon kaya nagdadagsaan na 'yung imports, 'yung containers padating na nang padating," he pointed out.
To ease port congestion, Domingo noted the government recently provided additional mechanisms, including:
- Transfer of overstaying containers to Subic or Batangas port
- Higher penalties for container owners found overstaying in the ports
- Special privilege for truckers and importers who would pull out their cargoes in Manila ports in the next two Sundays and Monday mornings.
"Hopefully, that will resolve the situation and help alleviate 'yung number of containers sa port," Domingo said.
The Trade secretary believed that the most recent measures imposed by government (special privilege to truckers who will utilize the ports Sundays and Mondays) is the best solution to the port congestion.
"'Pag nagpunta ka ng port ng Sunday o kaya Monday morning parang "ghost town" sa dami nang containers doon. Bakit hindi ilabas [ang mga containers] kung walang gumagamit nung port 'di ba? So, 'yun ang solusyon," he explained.
"Kung 'di pa rin sapat 'yun, 'yung gobyerno will see again kung ano pa 'yung pwedeng aksyong gawin para masolusyonan," he added. – VS, GMA News
