Customs orders scanning of all boxes passing through Subic
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is subjecting all
Subic-bound cargoes to 100% scanning to reduce smuggling at the same
time increase revenue collection.
In his order to Subic Port collector Marietta Zamoranos, Customs
Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the measure will prevent the
entry of anti-social goods such as illicit drugs and firearms that
remain high in the port.
The freeport has been under tight government watch since last year after
a series of smuggling activities involving oil and luxury cars were recorded.
A customs clearance area (CCA) equipped with scanning machines will be set up to
achieve enforcement control within the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
"The CCA will serve as clearing and processing center for goods and cargoes entering
the special economic and freeport zones from Customs territories," Morales said.
Customs x-ray chief Atty. Lourdes Mangaoang said the BOC is seeking a 10% increase
in revenue collection from cargo scanning this year.
Customs charges a scanning fee of $5 for every 20-footer and $10 for every 40-footer
that passes through its jurisdiction.
The x-ray machines are not only a tool for enforcement but are used as an aid for assessment
since they can detect discrepancies in import entries and the actual content of containers.
From May 2007 to end-April, the use of x-ray machines helped avert the entry of P1.5 billion worth
of toluene, an ingredient in the manufacture of shabu, and were instrumental in stopping the entry
of P6 million worth of master copies of pornographic materials and replicating machines.
The x-rays also detected a high-grade iron wire misdeclared as construction material. As a result,
the BOC is seeking P1.5 million in taxes from the consignee of the P9-million shipment.
In addition, the Customs x-ray team intercepted a P6-million shipment of moonfish from Xiamen,
China misdeclared as mackerel. Moonfish is served as a delicacy in most Chinese restaurants
and sold for P1,000 to P1,500 per 100 grams. It is a regulated importation requiring a permit
from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
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Truckers in on fuel discount program,
expect reduced expenses
TRUCKING operators see reduced fuel bills with the sector's
recent inclusion in the fuel discount program.
The discounts, which apply only to franchise holders and not
to private trucks, will take effect after the Department of
Transportation and Communications issues implementing guidelines.
"This is a welcome development for the trucking industry as we will be
able to reduce our fuel expenses which have already eaten up more than a
third of our overall expenditures," Col. Rodolfo De Ocampo, president of
the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, the main
advocate for the discount, told PortCalls.
The effect of the measure may be small but will nonetheless help
reduce the rate hike being planned by truck operators, he said.
Specifi-cally, it will mean savings of about P50 per truck traveling
within a 40km radius from Manila, and P200 to P400 per one-way trip or
10% savings in fuel expenses per truck for trips beyond the 40km radius.
Diesel, the most common fuel used by trucks, has increased more than P10 per
liter since January and is now at the P44 per liter level.
Prices are expected to remain volatile due to recent attacks in oil fields in Nigeria.
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Third runway for DMIA eyed
THE government is planning to build a third runway at the
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clarkfield,
Pampanga to boost the facility's chances of becoming one of the
major logistics hubs in the Asia-Pacific region.
The runway will be designed to accommodate larger aircraft such as the
Airbus 380 and Boeing jumbo jets that cannot be handled by the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA). It is also in preparation for the eventual transfer
to DMIA of the country's international airport.
Manila airports are congested and can no longer be expanded.
In a keynote address during the 2nd Philippine International Logistics
Expo last week, Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza said even the immediate
opening of NAIA Terminal 3 will not address the problem of congestion in Manila
as international airlines will continue to share the same single runway with domestic
airlines.
"We are developing Clark to be more competitive in the Asean region," Mendoza said.
"It is also to put Clark at the forefront of the region when Asean leaders sign (in November)
a memorandum of understanding on a single aviation market and liberalized air travel," he said.
Under the agreement, unlimited flights between Asean capital cities and DMIA may begin by December
2008. By 2015, the Asean may achieve a single aviation market similar to the European Union's.
"A third runway will not only provide Clark the edge over its counterparts but will immediately
lure airline operators to deploy larger airlines to the Philippines both for tourism and logistics,"
Mendoza said.
A P10-billion Passenger Terminal 2 is also scheduled for construction by third quarter of the year
with foreign firms eyed as bidders.
While waiting for approval of the Clark open skies policy, DMIA operator Clark International Airport
Corp is working on several bilateral agreements, including with the Middle East.
It recently opened air talks with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea to turn special charter
permits granted by the Civil Aeronautics Board into permanent air entitlements.
DMIA has been experiencing unprecedented growth in the last few years. It currently handles at least 60
commercial flights a week by Air Asia, Tiger Airways, Asiana, Hong Kong Express and China Southern,
Seair, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit.
United Parcel Service and airline maintenance service provider Lufthansa Technik maintain hubs in the area.
UPS is, however, packing its bags by 2010 to set up a hub in China.
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Maersk Line upbeat over 2008 outlook
MAERSK Line Philippines is looking at modest growth for global
exports this year amid the spiraling fuel cost and the global economic slowdown.
"The outlook for 2008 remains a fairly healthy one on the global demand front,
with Drewry Shipping Consultants forecasting a small uplift in freight rates for
ocean carriers and continued impressive growth in the Far East, Europe and Mediterranean
trades," Maersk Line Philippine country manager Jesper Dalgaard Larsen told PortCalls.
"With this, we expect a modest growth for exports in 2008," Larsen said.
"However, carriers cannot continue to pay all the cost of rising fuel prices at
the same time sustain a high service level on the various tradesÖ what we need is
a fair and equitable solution that allows us to share the risk with our customers
in a simple and transparent manner," Larsen said.
With this in mind, the world's biggest container line recently introduced a new
formula for the computation of the bunker adjustment factor. The move is an attempt
at providing a hassle-free, transparent process for adjusting rates in response to
one of the most unpredictable aspects of the container shipping business environment
- fuel price hikes.
Maersk Line consumes well over 10 million tons of bunker fuel each year.
For better customer service, Maersk Line also recently introduced a new management
style dubbed StreamLINE, which allows more autonomy in decision-making in each of the
respective country operations. This ensures services snugly fit needs of local customers.
In the Philippines, Maersk Line is upgrading its Mindanao service to
better cater to growing demand in the area.
Supply and demand situation
Apart from the oil issue and the global economic slowdown, some sectors have raised
concerns that the supply and demand situation will deteriorate over the coming years
due to a combination of weakening demand and a large order book for new container
vessels.
"But if you look at the figures provided by reputed independent analysts,
such as Drewry and Clarkson, it is clear that this view that supply will be
in excess of demand is not supported by hard numbers," Larsen said.
Drewry and Clarkson forecast a fairly solid global gross domestic product
(GDP) growth for 2008. GDP growth is acknowledged as a key driver of demand growth.
While the world economy is expected to slow down in 2008, growth will still be well
above the long-term average of 3%.
Last year, the global container market posted a 10% increase over 2006, anchored
on the 5% increase in the world economy.
Cargo volumes to the US increased 6.7% while volumes from Asia to South America
and vice versa grew in the 20-30% range. Volumes from Asia to Europe increased 18% in 2007.
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P10B road, bridge projects expedited
THE Department of Public Works and Highways is fast tracking the
completion of roads and bridges under a P9.7-billion grant from the
Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC).
Package 1 is for completion by December 2009 and Package 3 by September.
The projects involve the construction of 17 and 64 bridges, respectively.
Bridges for construction under Package 1 include the 535-meter (m)-long Amburayan
bridge in Ilocos Norte, 456m Quirino bridge in Ilocos Sur and La Union, the 520 m
Sarat bridge in Ilocos Norte, and 66.5m reversed arch steel-type Kaling bridge in Benguet.
The remaining 13 short span bridges are scattered in Region 1 and the Cordillera Autonomous
Region (CAR). The project is 21.03% complete.
To date, the DPWH has completed 32 bridges under Packages 1 and 3-six in Alabat
Island in Quezon province, six in Mindoro Occidental, 13 in Mindoro Oriental, three
in Batangas, three in Cavite and one in Bicol.
Package 2 covers Regions 2 and 3 as well as CAR and involves 29 bridges.
Package 4 is concentrated in Visayas and Mindanao. The projects are up for bidding this month.
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IRA implements rate restoration program
THE Informal Rate Agreement (IRA) member lines covering trades
from the Far East to destinations in the Middle East are implementing
a rate restoration program effective July 1, 2008.
Effective that date, all rates will increase by US$200/20'
and US$400/40' for all Far East exports other than Japan.
The rate increase for CNF and FOB will be applied on top of ongoing
market rates and for all equipment types to the Middle East. All ancillary
charge applicable at time of shipment, including a fully floating bunker component,
will be assessed on top of quoted ocean freight rates, according to IRA.
Export areas affected by the rate increase includes Korea, China, Hong Kong,
Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Destinations in the Middle East covered under IRA includes United Arab Emirates,
ports on the East Coast of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran and Oman.
IRA member lines are APL, CMA, CGM & ANL, COSCO, CSAV Norasia Liner Services, Evergreen,
Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line, Maersk Line,
MOL, NYK, OOCL, Pacific International Lines, Tokyo Senpaku Kaisha, United Arab Shipping Co,
Wan Hai Lines and Yangming Transport.
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