Yard utilization 'normalizing' at Manila ports -Customs official

Yard utilization at the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) is going back to normal, an official said Thursday amid concerns of port congestion during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

Customs Assistant Deputy Commissioner Vincent Maronilla said yard utilization was at 70%, within international standards, as of Wednesday.

The release of containers, the stabilization of their electronic-to-mobile system, and the return of the MICP's skeletal workforce after completing self-quarantine contributed to the "normalizing" yard utilization rate, Maronilla said at the regular Laging Handa public briefing. 

He also said the Bureau of Customs has donated more than 300 containers of rice and 186 containers of fish to the Office of the Civil Defense for distribution to Filipinos in need.

These containers were identified as overstaying and have been declared properties of the government, the official said.

The bureau said on Thursday that it has transferred 3,281 containers to the Pacific Roadlink Container, Inc., the Manila North Harbour Port, Inc., and the Laguna Gateway Inland Terminal as of Wednesday.

The average utilization rate in the Port of Manila and the MICP was 73% and 73.05%, respectively, as of Tuesday, according to an announcement at the BOC's official Facebook page.

The BOC also said it expedited the release of 588,000 sets of personal protective equipment for donation to the Department of Budget and Management last Tuesday. --KBK, GMA News