Philippine port operators are calling for the lifting of truck bans in Metro Manila, saying this will ensure that any plan to implement a proposed truck appointment system will work.
“I highly recommend that we push (to have) MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and all the cities within Metro Manila (support) elimination of all truck bans, to be replaced by a 24-hour appointment system (so it) spreads the load 24/7, which increases capacity dramatically (and) unlocks physical capacity unused in the port,” Christian Gonzalez, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) vice president and head of Asia Region, said during a Senate port congestion hearing on October 16.
The foreign chambers of commerce are also pushing for the scrapping of the MMDA truck ban even just for the peak shipping season.
The truck appointment or vehicle booking system requires truckers to secure an advance appointment from port operators before proceeding to the port to pick up or deposit containers.
“If we do this, not only do we benefit everybody in trade, we also put ourselves on the map… in terms of infrastructure technology,” Gonzalez added.
The port executive said the proposed truck appointment system already has the support of truckers, terminals, the private sector, and the port authority, and has been discussed with Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
Solving corruption
For his part, Sean Perez, vice president for commercial and marketing of Manila South Harbor operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), said the vehicle booking system will “eliminate (trucks) just parking on the queues within the port facility. Trucks… will only come in if they have a transaction.”
He noted the system will also solve corruption at the ports because it eliminates the need for manual transaction. But he warned the booking system will only work with the “total lifting” of the truck ban.
“The fear of (implementing) a truck ban and removing it will be negated because this (system) would not need any more truck ban,” Perez added.
In an interview with PortCalls after the Senate hearing, Perez said the arrangement is more of a short- to medium-term solution while the port connector roads, the long-term solution to congestion, are not yet in place.
He said ATI is now looking for a place to convert to a truck holding area, an essential component in the vehicle booking system.
Perez said they are working with the Department of Transportation and Communications, City of Manila, and other groups “because (the system) will need space.”
Meanwhile, asked if managing the booking system will be a joint venture between ICTSI and ATI, ICTSI’s Gonzalez replied, “It has to be because it involves the same trucking and port user community.”
“We are looking at two vendors who have global experience and success implementing this type of solution,” he told PortCalls in an email. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
