Philippine ports to be cleared of overstaying shipping containers 

MANILA, Philippines – Overstaying shipping containers in ports nationwide will soon be cleared after the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and port management officials inked a Manifesto of Support for efficient utilization of Philippine ports was signed by authorities on Friday.

The manifesto seeks to prevent the imbalance of inbound and outbound containers borne by the “unscrupulous practice of using ports for prolonged storage of shipping containers until the withdrawal of goods will yield to maximum profit.”

The manifesto also mandates PPA to publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation which will direct all cargo owners, shippers, consignees, logistics firms and customs brokers to withdraw cleared containers currently stored at ports within 15 days from the date of publication.

Overstaying shipping containers will be taken to inland container depots of the  International Container Terminal Services Inc.(ICTSI)  and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI).

Aside from this, ATI and ICTSI will regularly provide the government with information on the situation in their respective ports and information on shipping containers that have stayed at the port for at least 30 days from arrival.

Meanwhile, international shipping lines are required to remove shipping containers within the period prescribed by the BOC.

The BOC will also regularly dispose of abandoned containers to ensure the efficiency in Manila International Container Terminal and South Harbor.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade witnessed the manifesto signing, saying it would implement “good business relationships” within the Philippines.

“I give my full commitment and full happiness in witnessing the manifesto. Signing this manifesto is one thing, doing and implementing it is another, and going beyond it will equally spell good business relationships within the country. This is not for show. This is for real,” Tugade said in a statement.

BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, ICTSI Senior Vice President Christian Gonzales, ATI Senior Vice President Sean Perez, and Association of International Shipping Lines President Patrick Ronas were also present in the signing of the manifesto. / gsg