11-month cargo
throughput up 6%
PHILIPPINE ports continued their strong
performance, sailing into positive territory for the fourth
consecutive month in November propelled by the country’s
strong export shipments.
For the first 11 months of 2007, the total cargo volume was
at 148.02 million metric tons (mmt), up 5.65% compared to
the 140.11 mmt of the same period in 2006.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) attributed the increase
to the 9.86% rise in foreign cargo from 74.58 mmt last year
to 81.93 mmt for the period in review. Exports and imports
posted positive growth rates of 24.11% and 1.92%, respectively.
The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) recorded
the most foreign volume (13.93 mmt), followed by Cagayan de
Oro (13.06 mmt), Batangas (11.58 mmt), Limay (10.34 mmt),
Surigao (7.89 mmt) and South Harbor (5.87 mmt).
Exports grew from 26.69 mmt to 33.12 mmt, and imports from
47.89 mmt to 48.81 mmt.
Domestic cargo volumes, which have been sliding in the past
several months, also registered a 0.86% increase for the 11-month
period from 65.53 mmt to 66.10 mmt.
Container throughput continues its uptrend, growing 7.47%
from the same period last year or from 3.38 million TEUs to
3.64 million TEUs as a result of the active foreign cargo
trade.
Foreign containerized cargoes soared 13.42% from 1.89 million
TEUs in 2006 to 2.14 million TEUs in 2007. Of the total, imports
accounted for 1.09 million TEUs from 957,491 TEUs, up 13.88%;
and exports, 1.05 million TEUs from 934,159 TEUs, or an increase
of 12.95%.
The increase was mostly felt at the North and South Harbors,
the MICT, and the Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos
ports.
Domestic containerized cargoes, however, again retreated 0.06%
from 1.495 million TEUs to 1.494 million TEUs for the period
due to the preference of shippers for the use of the roll
on-roll off highway.
Shipcalls increased 1.85% for the 11-month period vis-à-vis
2006. Domestic shipcalls grew 1.72% from 269,044 to 273,678
and foreign shipcalls, 5.69% from 8,874 to 9,379.
Passenger traffic also rose 3.97% or 1.512 million as the
Strong Republic National Highway component ports saw double-digit
growth rates particularly in Batangas, Calapan and Ozamis.
For November 2007, port traffic recorded an increase in container
and passenger traffic but a decrease in cargo and shipcalls
compared to the same period in 2006.
Cargo traffic and shipcalls were down 4.68% and 3.76%, respectively.
Containerized cargoes and passenger grew 3.82% and 5.97%,
respectively.
Back to Top
Second batch of lines go through
advance inward foreign manifest testing
A SECOND batch of international carriers will
test this week the advance inward foreign manifest (IFM) submission
system of Cargo Data Exchange Center (CDEC).
CDEC, a Bureau of Customs (BOC)-accredited value-added service
provider (VASP), is looking at completing tests on at least
20 member-lines of the Association of International Shipping
Lines (AISL) by month’s end.
CDEC is one of two VASPs chosen by AISL to handle IFM submission
for its members. The other is e-Konek Pilipinas.
CDEC general manager Leo Morada told PortCalls the initial
batch of shipping lines is almost through with the test. They
are Evergreen, K-Line, Hapag Lloyd, NYK and American President
Lines.
The next batch consists of Ben Line, TMS, Regional Container
Lines, Atiko and Uniship.
“We are fast tracking our testing with the shipping
lines. This week, we will commence testing our system with
the next five shipping lines and maybe double the number of
carriers undergoing testing to 10 by February 16,” Morada,
who is also PortCalls’ information technology columnist,
explained.
“By end of the month, we are targeting at least 20 shipping
lines to have completed our tests on the IFM that will be
ready for final assessment by the BOC,” Morada said.
“Aside from the electronic submission of manifest, we
are also testing our new XML system with the shipping lines
and consolidators and expect to fully introduce it to them
by next month,” he added.
The testing involves do’s and don’ts in the IFM
submission and the difference between the XML system as required
by the new operating system of the BOC (AsycudaWorld) and
the existing ACOS (Automated Customs Operation System).
Under Customs Administrative Order 1-2007, the BOC requires
shipping lines and freight forwarders to provide it with accurate
data on vessels and cargoes that will arrive at any port 12
hours prior through electronic transfer coursed through any
of its accredited VASPs. Air carriers and forwarders are required
to submit the IFM two hours before arrival.
Back to Top
VASPs to soon service Subic
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is expanding
to Subic port the operation of its accredited value-added
service providers (VASPs). This follows the introduction of
VASP services to Batangas port last Friday with Petron’s
liquefied petroleum gas import shipment as the first entry
filed through VASP Intercommerce Network Services.
“We are fast tracking the intro-duction of VASP operations
in major ports nationwide as we enter Phase II of our automation,
all geared toward paperless transaction, reducing corruption,
and increasing revenue collection and trade facilitation,”
Customs deputy commissioner Alexander Arevalo told PortCalls.
Since the VASP expansion to Subic and Batangas does not involve
displacement of workers at the entry encoding centers, Arevalo
expects the process to run smoothly.
The BOC is also set to evaluate conditions of Cagayan de Oro
in preparation for the expansion of VASPs in that port.
Back to Top
Nonpareil International eager to take on
multinationals
NONPAREIL International Freight and Cargo Service,
Inc has big dreams.
In the next five years, Nonpareil president Rolando E. Quiambao
said he envisions the company to be on equal footing with
multinational firms, not merely complementing their operations
but competing head on with them.
Providing the edge over multinational firms is Nonpareil’s
strong local structure that provides better flexibility for
exporters and importers, Quiambao, who is also president of
the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc, told PortCalls in an
interview.
This early, Nonpareil is sowing seeds that will help bring
its goals — including a minimum of 15% annual growth
target — to fruition. It is investing heavily on people
and improving systems. It is also looking at expanding its
local and international network, acquiring more facilities
such as better truck units, and establishing strategically
located warehouses for better reach in the process offering
faster transit times.
These efforts will undoubtedly help the company further win
industry recognition. Last year, through Quiambao’s
individual license REQ (Roland E. Quiambao) Customs Brokerage
Services (which follows the mandate of Republic Act 9280 or
the Customs Brokers Act of 2004), Nonpareil bagged its first
award when it was adjudged by the Bureau of Customs as one
of the top customs brokers in the country.
Quiambao takes a down-to-earth view of the award, saying it
is merely an offshoot of hard work in the last 17 years. “This
award is not for me but for my people. If not for their passion
and hard work the company will not reach such a milestone,”
he said, adding “We will use the award given as our
inspiration in the years to come.”
“But all of this is really beyond figures. What is important
is the continued trust, faith and training of people for the
company,” Quiambao said.
From a five-employee company in 1990, Nonpareil has grown
in revenues, facilities and services. It now owns a 1,200-square
meter two-storey building and three warehouses.
Its services include customs clearance, transportation and
distribution, warehousing, freight forwarding as well as third-party
logistics and other supply chain solutions. It boasts a rigid
24-hour monitoring and tracking system, systematic reporting
of all delivery expediters on duty, perpetual submission of
daily itinerary reports and delivery update on a 15-30 minute
interval or as required via SMS or use of mobile phones and
handheld radios. — C. PARINGIT
NONPAREIL International Freight and
Cargo Service, Inc president Rolando Quiambao said his company
is gunning for no less than the big league. Quiambao is also
president of the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc.
Back to Top
Trucking rate hike lacking shippers’
ok
THE trucking rate increase set for implementation
by February 14 is facing deferment after the affected party
— the dis-tribution managers, specifically the Supply
Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) —
has yet to approve the same.
“Even though we verbally agreed, SCMAP still has to
come out with a (board) resolution, without which we cannot
effect an increase,” SCMAP president John Guillermo
told PortCalls.
“With the induction ceremony our main focus this month,
I think the increase will have to momentarily take a back
seat or until our next board meeting next month,” he
added.
SCMAP, formerly the Distribution Management Association of
the Philippines, will induct its new set of officers tomorrow
(February 7).
The Allied Transport Group, Integrated North Harbor Truckers
Association and WGA Truckers Association are claiming they
can no longer wait for the SCMAP resolution and will go ahead
with the increase.
“We will implement the rate increase with or without
the resolution of the SCMAP,” the truckers, collectively
known as North Harbor Trucking Association, said.
They are proposing a 16% rate hike or P817.77 per 20-footer
from P5,100 per trip to P5,917.77 for every 40-kilometer round
trip to and from Metro Manila to counter increasing costs.
Back to Top
Signature campaign for full RA 9280 implementation
eyed
THE Professional Customs Brokers Association
of the Philippines, Inc. (PCBAPI) will launch a signature
campaign to force the Bureau of Customs to fully implement
Republic Act 9280 or the Customs Brokers Act of 2004.
PCBAPI is also looking at asking other professional associations
to join its cause. One early supporter is the Visayas-Mindanao
Customs Brokers Association.
At the sidelines of PCBAPI’s first national assembly
Nilo Casas, president of the Vis-Min association, told PortCalls:
“Until the proposed amendments to RA 9280 are passed,
the existing law should be enforced (and not) deferred…
on grounds that amendments are ongoing.”
Casas said his group will try to obtain up to 3,000 signatures
initially from Metro Manila schools offering customs administration
courses. More signatures are expected as the campaign goes
to the provinces, he added.
“PCBABI and Vis-Min will try this measure first and
see how the BOC and the Congress will react to our petition
to implement RA 9280 before resorting immediately to legal
remedies,” Casas said.
“The legal remedy to force BOC to implement RA 9280…
will be our last resort,” he stressed.
RA 9280 enacted on March 30, 2004 regulates the practice of
the customs broker profession. It also prohibits corporate
practice of customs brokerage. Section 29 of the law provides
that the customs broker practice is a professional service
and as such, “no firm, company, or association may be
registered or licensed as such for the practice of customs
broker profession”.
Both Houses of Congress are deliberating on proposed amendments
to RA 9280 specifically Sec. 29, in order to allow corporations
to clear at customs.
Back to Top
|
