Cash incentives await importers withdrawing cargoes at Manila South Harbor on Sundays up to Monday mornings, according to its operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI).
The initiative is in line with the directive of the Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion, which oversees national government efforts to free up container backlog at Manila ports.
In a statement, ATI said the cash incentive comes in the form of a credit memo that gives importers a 20% discount on arrastre fees as provided by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) by waiver of their share, plus free container storage from the 6th to 10th day for their cargo at the port.
ATI noted the credit memo will only be given to importers as incentive if they withdraw cargoes from South Harbor from Sunday 12:01 a.m. to Monday 12:00 noon. The credit memo will only be applicable on the next port transaction of the importer.
The port operator said it “encourages importers to avail of this privilege to save on costs and to take advantage of lower vehicle movement on roads during lean periods such as weekends.”
PPA earlier announced that containers, which are Customs-cleared and deemed ready for delivery but remain inside the port, shall be levied P5,000 in storage fees per day in excess of the free five-day storage period, beginning October 1.
South Harbor, banks, shipping lines, trucking companies, alongside government agencies with port-related functions remain business as usual during weekends and holidays to accommodate the transactions of shippers.
Manila International Container Port will also offer similar incentives although it has yet to issue an official press statement.
Photo courtesy of Asian Terminals Inc
