Port of Manila removes overstaying containers to decongest yard

The Port of Manila decongested its yard space by removing some overstaying containers, a representative said on Wednesday.

“The Manila port’s efforts have already resulted to the drastic decline of the yard utilization for laden and empty containers,” District Collector Atty. Rhea Gregorio said in a statement.

"About 400 overstaying containers had been transferred from the Port
of Manila to the ATI (Asian Terminal Inc.) facility. The removal of the remaining containers is ongoing," she added.

The overstaying laden containers had been transferred to the ATI yard in Sta. Clara, Batangas while the empty ones had been issued demand letters and Decrees of Abandonment for proper loading out.

Further, Gregorio said that shorter queues of vessels were also observed at the south harbor—a manifestation that the port's decongestion efforts worked, she claimed.

"Faster processing of transactions for the release of shipments had resulted to less delays in the berthing of vessels and unloading of shipping containers in the yard," Gregorio said. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News