BOC confident no port congestion will occur amid truck ban

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) gave the assurance that ports would still be at manageable levels and no congestion will occur after a truck ban was reimposed on EDSA and C5 Road.

In a statement issued on Monday, Deputy Commissioner of Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group Atty. Edward James A. Dy Buco said the BOC will work with shipping lines and operators.

"To ensure the unhampered delivery of services and avoid possible port congestion, the Bureau is closely coordinating with Shipping Lines and Terminal Operators as our proactive role in averting the unlikely event of port congestion,” Dy Buco said.

The BOC made the statement after the Confederation of Truckers' Association of the Philippines on Monday warned that the truck ban may result in different problems like port congestion.

According to Dy Buco, the BOC ordered the Customs Container Control Division of each port to make sure that empty containers are removed.

The bureau also directed all Assessment Offices personnel to immediately process laden containers for prompt release to prevent them from piling up at the port, he added.

Despite the ‘inevitable’ impact of the truck ban on the movement of goods, the BOC assured its stakeholders that it will maintain the ports at a manageable level.

It also vowed to avoid the same incidents of port congestion that happened in 2014 and 2018.

The BOC expressed optimism about the matter, pointing out that the bureau has been maintaining the yard utilization rate within the desired level.

For December 1 to 13, the BOC said the average yard utilization of Manila International Container Port (MICP) is at a manageable level of 75%. The global standard rate is not exceeding 70%, according to BOC.

Citing a time-release study at the MICP, the BOC said the actual customs clearance time for importation is two days, 10 hours, and three minutes from submission of goods declaration to issuance of clearance, while exportation, it is three days, 13 hours, and 29 minutes.

The immediate release of shipments greatly contributes in reducing congestion in the ports, the BOC noted.

The truck ban took effect on Monday on EDSA and C5 Road.

From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. every day except Sundays and holidays, trucks would be banned from using these roads.

However, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said during the window hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. trucks may use certain portions of EDSA: Magallanes Interchange to Roxas Boulevard, and North EDSA to Balintawak.

MMDA traffic chief Bong Nebrija on Tuesday said trucks delivering perishable goods and with permits from the Department of Agriculture, fuel tankers with permits from MMDA, and trucks used for government projects are exempted from the ban. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News