Truck ban exemption for TABS users not yet in effect

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TABS is an electronic platform for booking containers at Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), specifically developed to minimize road traffic and prevent container buildups. Photo courtesy of Asian Terminals Inc.
TABS is an electronic platform for booking containers at Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), specifically developed to minimize road traffic and prevent container buildups. Photo courtesy of Asian Terminals Inc.
TABS is an electronic platform for booking containers at Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), specifically developed to minimize road traffic and prevent container buildups. Photo courtesy of South Harbor operator Asian Terminals Inc.

Truckers with Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) reservations at Manila ports are being discouraged from plying roads during the truck ban even if a government official earlier said they could.

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras had promised trucks with TABS booking exemption from the re-imposed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) truck ban which began on Sept 15. But until now no implementing rules have been issued.

TABS is an electronic platform for booking containers at Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), specifically developed to minimize road traffic and prevent container buildups. Manila port operators said the new system, which went live on Oct 1, will ensure a more organized flow of containerized cargoes going in and coming out of the terminals while providing real-time information on container status.

Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) vice president for external affairs Pepito Dino said Almendras told truckers and port operators he will meet with the Metro Manila Council regarding the exemption of trucks from the ban.

The plan, Dino explained to PortCalls, is to give trucks two hours’ ban exemption before their port appointment plus another two hours after getting out of the port, the latter exemption starting from the time indicated on the equipment interchange report (EIR).

Truck drivers can show the printout of their TABS booking to traffic enforcers to avoid apprehension.

Since the truck ban is longer in the afternoon, Dino said the exemption might be lengthened to two hours and 30 minutes anytime during that period.

But for now, Dino said trucks should avoid booking appointments during truck ban hours until a memo is released.

Truck ban hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day except Sundays and holidays, in all roads of Metro Manila except in the “Northern truck route where the truck allowable period shall still be 24 hours, subject to prohibited dates in APEC related events to be determined in later resolutions.”

The ban exempts cargo trucks loaded with perishable and agricultural cargo.

MICT client relations manager Erika Mari Gonzales-Ambrosio, in a presentation during a Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI) forum on September 30, also asked stakeholders to refrain from plying the roads during truck ban hours until a memo is released.

But in an email to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc (Philexport), Ambrosio said that through TABS, “truckers will be allowed to roam Metro Manila even during truck ban hours as long as they have a booking”, a provision presumably in force only after implementing rules on truck ban exemption are issued.

Ambrosio’s statement was made in response to industry concern that truckers might all try to make bookings simultaneously during non-truck ban hours, which could lead to a shortage of slots for a certain hour or “zone.”

She said that to avoid being stopped on the road, truckers “will be given a printout which they can show traffic enforcers to let them proceed.”

Another industry concern, which Ambrosio addressed in the Philexport email, involved the unpredictability of processing time for import documents.

Ambrosio said a company can do advance booking as long as the container is already in the yard.

“We will not require that booking be done only once gate passes are issued. You can reserve slots early even prior (to) payment as long as cargo is on terminal ground,” she explained.

Moreover, when a truck overshoots its schedule and arrives at the Manila port late, the truck will still be allowed to enter the terminal “but there will be corresponding points deducted” from its account.

During the CCBI forum, Ambrosio said the points system will be implemented because “the government wanted TABS to change industry behaviors, maximize efficiency, and alleviate congestion.” Under the points system, clients will be rewarded for booking and transiting Metro Manila during low traffic periods. However, debits to their points will be made when the truck arrives late, is a no-show, or has no booking when entering the port.

The points, Ambrosio explained in her email to Philexport, “will not have monetary impact for now as these will be dummy points until end of the year.” She said this is just to familiarize customers with the process and allow them to adjust to TABS.

“So in essence, we are going to retain same procedures come October 1 but just with one additional step of booking a schedule just to get used to it and train you for it,” Ambrosio said.

First day hiccups

As expected, minor glitches marked the first day of implementation of TABS, said CTAP’s Dino, with some users unable to book on the slot they preferred.

Manila South Harbor port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) confirmed to PortCalls there was a small glitch on the first day due to the “deluge of late registrations.” ATI added they had anticipated some hiccups since the new system is still in the initial stage, but noted that the second day of implementation went more smoothly.

The port operator said while booking is mandatory to port entry, trucks without prior bookings are still being accommodated, assisted by South Harbor’s two customer centers in registering and inputting their appointments into the system. – Roumina Pablo