Palace: Move port cargo out before Quiapo, Pope events

Malacañang on Tuesday urged importers and cargo handlers to pull out as much cargo as they can from the port of Manila before millions of people cram the city streets for two big religious event—the Black Nazarene procession on Jan. 9 and the visit of Pope Francis from Jan. 15 to 19.

While last year’s port congestion has already been addressed, there is a need to move the shipments out this early since the two events, which are just a week apart, are expected to restrict Manila traffic, according to Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras.

“We are appealing to the private sector, we are appealing to the importers and cargo handlers: Can you please pull out your cargos now while you are able? What do we mean by now? That’s today, tomorrow and Thursday,” Almendras said at a Palace media briefing.

This Friday, he said, there would be no cargo movement as Manila secures the route for the Black Nazarene procession, which can draw up to two million participants and take several hours to finish.

By Thursday next week, Almendras said, the routes to be taken by Pope Francis would also be installed with security barriers and other structures related to his tour.

“There will be (traffic) restrictions by that time. So naturally the flow of goods from the port will also be affected,” he said. “All government offices are open to make sure that you have the opportunity to pull (cargo) out.”

Aside from about 60,000 empty container vans, a big number of refrigerated vans or “reefers”—double the normal volume—have yet to be pulled out of the port, he noted.

After the national government initiated a massive decongestion effort that moved out 2,000 containers last year, only less than a hundred containers were moved out last weekend, he added. Nikko Dizon