The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has announced that there is currently no port congestion, following a recent inspection requested by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to monitor rice shipments.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago assured the public that the ports remain operational and efficient.
During the inspection, it was revealed that 888 containers of rice were held at ports. These containers were already cleared by the Bureau of Customs, are now ready to be retrieved by the consignees.
Santiago reported that over the weekend, around 300 of those containers were pulled out. He expressed optimism that the remaining containers would be removed before the end of the month.
Santiago explained that one reason for the containers overstaying at the ports could be the lower storage costs at the ports compared to private warehouses.
He added that some industry players might hold off on releasing their rice shipments, hoping to sell them at a higher price when demand rises.
To prevent similar shipment delays, the PPA vowed to continue intensifying its monitoring of essential commodities, including pork, chicken, and onions.
Meanwhile, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa thanked the PPA for its swift action. He noted that the 888 containers contained approximately 23,000 metric tons of rice, representing about 0.75 percent of the total three million metric tons of rice imported this year.
De Mesa emphasized the importance of clearing the ports efficiently to ensure smooth distribution during the high-demand period.
