The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is transferring 4,000 unclaimed containers from Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) to the container depot of Pacific Roadlink Container, Inc. (PRLI) and the domestic terminal Manila North Harbor to unclog the congested MICT.
Half of the overstaying containers will be transferred to the PRLI depot and the other 2,000 Customs-cleared boxes to Manila North Harbor, BOC said in a statement.
BOC said it is also working to dispose of the overstaying containers through donation or public auction.
A joint memorandum of agreement between BOC, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and port operators Asian Terminals Inc. and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is being drafted to further address the issue of overstaying containers.
PPA last March 26 issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 11-2020 temporarily authorizing Manila North Harbor to be the designated port for the transfer of overstaying foreign containers cleared for delivery/withdrawal at MICT to “urgently address congestion” at the international terminal.
The transfer applies only to overstaying foreign containers already cleared for delivery/withdrawal, and is subject to approval of BOC in the case of import containers.
The Inter-Agency Taskforce for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on March 27 also directed BOC, PPA, DTI, DA, and other attached agencies and bureaus to issue a joint memorandum circular providing specific guidelines to address disruptions in the supply chain to ensure that essential goods, in particular food, medicine, and other basic commodities, are available.
Christian Gonzalez, executive vice president of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), operator of the MICT, in a March 27 letter to consignees, shippers, brokers/processors, said MICT “has come to a point where it is becoming impossible to operate in an efficient manner,” said in a March 27 letter to consignees, shippers, customs brokers, and processors, a copy of which was sent by PPA to media.
He added, “Containers are simply not being removed from the terminal. We understand that it is unfeasible for some, and many businesses have been temporarily shut down, but without the full support of everyone that is able to open, we will come to a point when efficient operations will no longer be possible.”
He said there were 22,043 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of imports in the terminal on March 14 but by March 27, this has increased to 36,793 TEUs.
Gonzalez appealed to consignees, shippers, customs brokers, and processors, especially consignees with reefer cargo, to withdraw reefers immediately.
For the period covering March 1 to March 26, he noted that 8,201 cleared containers were sitting at the terminal, of which more than 850 TEUs are refrigerated containers.
In addition, there are 21,387 TEUs that have been discharged after March 1 but still waiting for clearance and release; over 1,400 TEUs of these are reefers.
“Those who are able to must please clear and remove your containers immediately,” appealed Gonzalez.
Those unable to take delivery at their own facilities, ICTSI offered its offsite facilities in Laguna, Bulacan and Cavite. “Special accommodations are available to anyone who utilizes these facilities,” Gonzalez said.
He also appealed to the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases to facilitate immediate approval for transfer or condemnation, through the BOC, of more than 7,000 TEUs in MICT for more than 30 days.
Of the more than 7,000 TEUs, 5,400 TEUs are uncleared overstaying boxes, 4,865 of which are overstaying and were discharged between 2010 and 2019.
“Condemn and approve the transfer of all containers (at the MICT) which were discharged in 2018 or earlier immediately bypassing the tedious condemnation and auction process. We must act on this after years of debate,” Gonzalez said.
He noted that “all cleared boxes over 30 days old should have approvals facilitated” so they can be transferred without delay to external facilities.
To address the problem, PPA in Memorandum Circular No. 11-2020, dated March 26 and effective immediately, temporarily authorized Manila North Harbor, a domestic port, to be the designated port for the transfer of overstaying foreign containers that have been cleared for delivery/withdrawal, and subject to approval of BOC for import containers.
The PPA memo said the transfer of import containers is subject to approval by the BOC.
ICTSI has a 50% stake in Manila North Harbour Port Terminal, Inc., operator of the Manila North Harbor.
Movement of all types of cargoes is allowed during the enhanced community quarantine, but issues with checkpoints in the first days of implementation have caused problems.
DTI has already reiterated a policy of unhampered movement of cargo trucks and is issuing identification cards to logistics service providers and their staff to enable them to travel and pass through checkpoints. BOC is also issuing a pass to its accredited stakeholders as well. – Roumina Pablo
