PPA: ‘Slowdown’ in shipments to PH seen

MANILA, Philippines — A “slowdown” in the entry of shipments into the country could occur in the following days in the wake of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV).

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago on Wednesday explained that the “slowdown” could be because of the restrictions imposed by China, where most of the shipments to the Philippines pass through.

He said that an estimated 83% of cargo shipments to the Philippines emanate from Taiwan, China, and the Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macau. Several shipments coming from Europe and America have to pass to pass also by the same area before reaching to the Philippines.

“Maaring magkaroon ng slowdown dahil yung mga workers doon at yung port operations doon sa China, Hong Kong, Macau, at Taiwan ay magkakaroon din ng slowdown dahil mayroong restriction of movement ng mga tao o mga citizens nila,” Santiago said in a press conference.

(There could be a slowdown because workers and port operations in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan will also have a slowdown because of restrictions of movement.)

“‘Yung mga paglibot ay medyo nililimitahan para hindi magkaroon ng contact so medyo magkakaroon ng kabagalan sa pagpasok ng mga tao at sa pagproseso ng mga kargamento,” he added.

(Movement will be limited so that there will be no contact so there would be a slowdown in the entry of people and the processing of cargo.)

The PPA earlier barred crew members of any vessel from China and its Special Administrative Regions to disembark at any port in the country as part of the efforts to preempt the spread of 2019-nCov.

It added that relatives of Filipino crew members will no longer be allowed to board vessels to visit their kin.

READ: Crews of vessels from China can’t disembark in PH – PPA

Filipino crew members who are already going home from their trips must undergo quarantine and be cleared of the virus before they would be allowed to disembark their ship.

Meanwhile, cargo shipments coming from China and other mentioned areas would be allowed to enter the country’s ports after the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) lifted its 14-day quarantine period on shipments.

READ: PPA: Cargo coming from nCoV-infected nations can enter PH ports