Port shutdown babala ng PPA

NAGBABALA ang Philippine Ports Authority na mag-shutdown ang operasyon nito kung hindi kukunin ng mga may-ari at consignee ang kanilang mga dumating na kargamento.

Ayon kay General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago mapipilitang magtigil operasyon ang PPA dahil wala ng mapaglalagyan ng mga container vans.

Halos 100 porsyento na umano ang yard utilization sa Manila International Container Terminal at Manila South Harbor.

“Ports, specifically the Manila ports, are the lungs of the country’s commerce and trade. These lungs right now are not functioning efficiently due to congestion,” ani Santiago. “If we continue to ignore calls to withdraw even only those cleared, ready for delivery, and overstaying cargoes, these lungs are in danger of total collapse, resulting in full-blown port congestion, or worst, a shutdown, and consequently a shortage in the much needed goods and supplies which are expected to address the demands of the market.”

Pinag-aaralan ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno ang pagkumpiska sa mga kargamento na overstaying na upang mailabas na ito.

“PPA needs the cooperation of the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Customs to legally dispose of the overstaying containers. PPA will try to do everything it can legally do under its mandate to make more space at the ports to accommodate existing and incoming cargoes. But if no solution and cooperation from other agencies and the logistics community will be forthcoming, handling of cargoes will eventually grind to a halt.”

Hanggang noong Biyernes ay mahigit sa 800 reefer van na nasa MICT na naglalaman ng pagkain, gamot at iba pang essential goods, at mahigit 2,000 drug containers na pinayagan ng lumabas ang nananatili pa rin sa terminal.

Upang mabawasan ang laman ng MICT ay inilipat sa Manila North Harbor ang mga overstaying foreign container vans.