Expect higher fees at Port of Manila to result in costlier Christmas goods, truckers say

"Ganoon ang epekto nun sa bandang (huli). Lahat kasi ng ikakargang gastos sa isang produkto ipapasa  sa consumer kaya tataas. Ganun ang domino effect noon,” said Rodolfo de Ocampo, a trucker and president of the Port Users Confederation (PUC).

 

To partly force the owners and consignees of shipments at the pier to bring out their containers and decongest the port, the Philippine Ports Authority ( PPA ) set at P5,000 per day  storage fee for a 20-foot container after the five-day free storage period. The old rate was P500 per day. 

 

The other rates:

 

- 35-foot container - P8,750 per day

- 40-foot container - P10,000 per day

- 45-foot container - P11,250 per day

 

The new rates take effect Thursday, October 2.

 

PUC chairman emeritus Noimee L. Saludo said each importer has about 10 to 50 containers that have not been released yet because they don have warehouses for them.

 

Saludo said the higher rates will cost the truckers a lot. ".... lahat talaga tumataas na, gasolina, tax and then itong storage fee na nakakalula! Ang end result niyan talaga pupunta sa consumers," he said. — ELR, GMA News