Customs Bureau extends port operations to counter ill-effects of Manila truck ban

The operating hours of the two largest ports have been extended to ease the backlog created by an expanded truck ban enforced by the City Council of Manila. 

 

In a statement Thursday, the Bureau of Customs said the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) will be open until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. 

 

“Depending on the volume of containers that needs to be released, the Bureau of Customs may further extend operations to Sunday,” the statement read. 

 

The Customs Bureau has deployed additional examiners and personnel on stand-by to implement the X-Ray inspection and fast-track the release of cargoes who customs duties and taxes are already paid. 

 

On Monday, the Manila City government implemented an expanded ban on trucks and other vehicles with gross weight above 4,500 kilograms from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. or seven hours longer than the previous restriction – except Saturdays and Sundays.

 

The ban – which faced stiff opposition from truck operators and businesses – does not cover trucks carrying perishables and petroleum products, as well as vehicles for government projects. 

 

The situation has caused a huge drop in Customs revenues. 

 

The POM and the MICP are the two biggest ports in the Philippines in terms of cargo volume and customs revenues, accounting for about 48 percent of total collections of the Customs Bureau.

 

Truckers agreed to resume operations after the Manila City government agreed to a temporary concession allowing trucks with a gross weight of above 4,500 kilograms to ply the streets of Manila from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the next six to eight months. – VS, GMA News