Bam Aquino inspects ‘improved’ Manila port

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Tuesday led an ocular inspection at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) at the North Harbor to determine the problems behind its congestion.

The senator was accompanied by Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Customs Comissioner John Sevilla, and ICTSI’s Christian Lozano.

Lozano showed the officials the automated gate and the main container yard, including the expansion area where construction was finally allowed to resume by the Cabinet cluster after it was stalled allegedly by “political wrangling”.

The cluster is headed by Secretary Rene Almendras together with the department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Finance, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Bureau of Customs.

Port congestion eased after the Manila government lifted its truck ban.

The Cabinet cluster said port operations significantly increased its efficiency and productivity, which they could not do during the implementation of the truck ban.

Aquino said he was happy to see the improvements in the port.

“This is a big improvement. Hopefully, with continued reforms, we will continue to see improvements in the next month,” he said.

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