Divert cargo shipments to other ports, export council suggests

AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—To further decongest Manila’s roads and ports of trucks, the Export Development Council (EDC) has suggested diverting foreign cargoes to ports outside the city, Inquirer Radio 990AM said.

The report said the group called on Malacañang to order the transfer of cargo shipments from the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) to other hubs such as the Port of Batangas.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., EDC vice-chairperson and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc.  president, said the POM and the MICP can no longer accommodate the large amount of cargo brought in and out of the city.

Ortiz-Luis urged the Philippine Ports Authority to come up with a feasible plan and timetable for the long-term solution to traffic congestion.

The Bureau of Customs earlier said that POM and MICP, the country’s biggest ports, were still congested with container vans because of the Manila truck ban. While the truck ban would help ease traffic, it has affected cargo moving businesses. With Ruel Perez, Inquirer Radio 990AM