LTFRB still sparing ‘colorum’ trucks for Manila port’s sake

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez.

MANILA, Philippines—The “no-apprehension policy” granting a temporary reprieve to colorum or unauthorized cargo trucks will continue, but only for those that deliver to and from the Manila port area.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) made the announcement two weeks after Malacañang said that the policy—implemented starting June 28 and later criticized for supposedly causing heavy traffic in the metropolis—would take effect only up to Aug. 15.

In an interview with Inquirer editors and reporters Thursday, LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez maintained that due to the continuing congestion at the ports in Manila, “special consideration” must be given to 2,145 trucks that are tapped for port operations but have yet to secure provisional authority (PA) from the LTFRB.

The PA serves as a temporary permit for trucks yet to comply with franchising requirements, and spares them from the P200,000 penalty imposed under Joint Administrative Order (JAO)  No. 2014-01. The no-apprehension policy mainly suspends the implementation of the JAO.

“We don’t want to leave the [Port of Manila] at a standstill. We should consider the bigger impact on industries,” Ginez said. “This is of a bigger national interest than (stopping) colorum operations.”

Business groups have blamed the port congestion on the expanded daytime truck ban (5 a.m. to 9 p.m.) implemented since February by the Manila City government. Despite clamors to lift the ban or suspend it for a few days, the city government headed by former President and now Mayor Joseph Estrada had only given “concessions” in the form of two express lanes that trucks can use 24/7.

33K applicants

According to Ginez, the LTFRB received 33,000 permit applications from operators of trucks-for-hire ahead of the Aug. 15 deadline. Of this number, about 12,000 trucks have operations taking them to the Manila ports daily. Of the 12,000, about 2,000 have yet to secure PAs.

Ginez did not give a definite timetable for the leeway granted to port-related truckers, saying it would continue until port operations “normalize.”

To speed up the application process for these trucks, the Philippine Ports Authority will have them identified through the issuance of port user’s certificates while the LTFRB will set up a one-stop shop for PA applications.

In a separate interview, Ginez said the continued suspension of the JAO would apply to port-related trucks, whether they are loaded or not. It also had the full support of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, he added.

Ban suspension still the solution

Meanwhile, Jesus Lim Arranza, chair of the Federation of Philippine Industries, lauded the LTFRB’s move but maintained that the problems at the port may be resolved faster if the Manila City government would suspend the truck ban as more shipments are expected to arrive in time for the Christmas season.

“By September, people will start importing more and that will only aggravate and complicate the situation,” Arranza explained. “All the obstacles must be suspended so we can address the problems faster. Time is of the essence.”

Recent improvements

Arranza said there had actually been “improvements” in the Manila port operations over the last two and a half months.

Latest government data showed that there are now only 8,000 overstaying containers at the port area, from the 20,000 recorded two and a half months earlier. The volume of Manila-bound containers stuck abroad (in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan) has already shrunk to 20,000 from the peak level of 37,000.

A special chartered vessel, whose services were sought by the PPA, arrived Wednesday and started moving 3,000 overstaying containers from Manila to Subic. The vessel, which can carry 1,200 containers per trip, was hired for P14 million to render a 15-day service.

RELATED STORIES

LTFRB suspends crackdown on colorum trucks

Clamor still on vs Manila truck ban despite 2 express lanes

Palace ‘overrules’ LTFRB on colorum