Manila waterfront stakeholders are staging a “holiday” that may continue next week in protest of the effects of the city’s daytime truck ban and to pressure the national government to intervene.
The move was spearheaded by the Aduana Business Club (ABC) and supported by the Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines.
ABC director Samson Gabisan told PortCalls in a phone interview the protesters are “asking waterfront stakeholders” — importers, exporters, customs brokers and truckers – to join the protest and stop processing shipments.
Gabisan, also a vice president for the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc, pointed out that when protesters stop processing shipments, collections of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will be affected, and that’s what the group hopes will compel the national government to act.
“We don’t want coercion or intimidation,” Gabisan clarified, adding that protesters don’t stop trucks that already have gate passes to deliver shipments.
He said ABC proceeded with the action because it received “substantial support” from stakeholders.
Gabisan noted trucking rates “have doubled” due to the truck ban and could climb as high as P20,000 per container. He said the rates could even triple when shipments surge in June and in the “ber” months, the traditional peak season for imports and exports.
There are also widespread complaints of unrestrained towing by unscrupulous tow service operators.
ABC is asking for 24/7 operations at BOC amogn all truckers to “decongest the ports”, citing the buildup of container cargoes at the South Harbor and the Manila International Container Port since the truck ban began in February.
PCBAPI issued a “manifesto of support” for the holiday, saying the Manila truck ban limits deliveries, drives up trucking rates, causes exports to miss their committed times, leads to various surcharges, and is affecting the work of customs brokers. –– Roumina M. Pablo
Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
