The Bureau of Customs assured the public that there are no port congestions and delays in the release of shipments at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port, the two biggest ports in the country, saying at least 87 percent of the port yards were being utilized.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said he personally inspected the International Container Terminal Services Inc. container yard and later declared that there was no congestion at MICP.
“Yard utilization of MICP at present is at 86 percent and that is within the normal operations of the port,” Lapeña said.
The Port of Manila, on the other hand, has 88 percent yard utilization which is also within the normal operations of the port. As of press time, there are no vessels waiting to dock at South Harbor.
He said the weather condition in the Philippines has caused the delays in the berthing of vessels and unloading of containers in the yard.
“Nonetheless, the Bureau is closely coordinating with the terminal operators to be ready for the influx of cargoes for the holidays,” he said.
“The vessels are arriving simultaneously and the terminal operator cannot accommodate all vessels in the berthing area. They have to wait for their scheduled berthing in the breakwater,” the BoC chief said.
Lapeña said he issued a memorandum order to all port collectors to expedite the processing of essential food such as rice, sugar, pork, and chicken and to closely monitor the movement of vessels anchored in the breakwater. This is to aid supply issue caused by artificial shortage.
“We are issuing alert orders on shipments with derogatory reports to balance our trade facilitation and border protection efforts. All shipments found with no irregularities are cleared immediately,” he said.
The BoC chief said that alerted general shipments shall be examined within 48 hours while perishable goods shall be examined within 24 hours from the issuance of the alert order. Shipments found with no irregularities shall be released within 48 hours.
