Customs brokers and international ocean carriers have agreed to form a committee to tackle issues between the two parties.
The decision was arrived at in a dialogue that took place after customs brokers staged a motorcade rally in front of the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) office in Malate, Manila on August 18.
The protesters belonged to the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI), Nagkakaisang Koalisyon sa Pantalan, and Aduana Business Club, Inc. (ABC).
“The committee will be tackling specifics,” Atty Maximino Cruz, AISL general manager, told PortCalls after the dialogue.
Cruz said that industry problems being aired by the customs brokers are “general” in nature, and that the committee will be tasked to pinpoint specific issues that need to be addressed.
The committee membership will have 15 representatives at most from AISL, CCBI and ABC.
The group of customs brokers called for the removal of “arbitrary charges,” such as port congestion surcharge, emergency cost recovery surcharge, container imbalance charge, terminal handling charge, container cleaning charges, and container deposit.
They also asked AISL to request its members to “improve and streamline” operations, including to simplify document processing, invest in technology, hire more personnel, and provide a transparent policy on demurrage and detentions charges.
Moreover, the foreign liners were asked to provide container depots “sufficient (for the) volume of empty containers.”
Cruz said that while AISL can help streamline its member-lines’ procedures, it has no control over charges, and the most it can do is to exert influence over its member-lines, as it “cannot prevail over the business call” of individual liners.
On container depots, AISL president Patrick Ronas said the association has always advocated for additional container yards to house empty containers.
Brokers argued that before their protest action they have been calling for a dialogue with AISL for some time to settle problems among the sectors.
Cruz responded that the problem after each meeting was the lack of “continuity” and a “system” to see solutions through, and said he hopes this time around the small committee will be “more productive” in achieving its goals.
Samson Gabisan, executive vice president of CCBI and director of ABC said the group was “satisfied” with the meeting.
“I think in a few weeks time we can have results on the detention charges and streamlining of documents processing,” he told PortCalls. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
