Two consumer groups are urging customs brokers to reconsider the ongoing ‘port holiday’ at Manila’s ports, which they warn could further disrupt the flow of essential goods and add to costs ultimately shouldered by consumers.
In separate statements, CitizenWatch and Konsyumer At Mamamayan (KM) said Filipino consumers would ultimately bear the brunt of the protest, which is scheduled to run for a week starting Oct. 5.
The Practicing Customs Brokers and Port Truckers Alliance of the Philippines Inc. (PCBAPI) had called for the voluntary ‘rest day’ protest over what it said was foreign shipping lines’ failure to address a mounting backlog of empty containers.
While acknowledging the port stakeholders’ concerns, the consumer groups warned that stopping work would only further strain the movement of essential goods.
‘A ‘port holiday’ could create another burden for ordinary Filipinos who are already having a hard time. It will only disrupt the movement of food, medicine, fuel, and other essential goods,’ CitizenWatch co-convenor Christopher Belmonte said.
‘What is needed is action-not a stoppage of the flow of goods,’ he added.
PCBAPI chair Reynaldo Soliman earlier told the Inquirer that foreign shipping lines can take two weeks to a month to accept empty containers for return after imported goods have been unloaded.
The resulting pileup has worsened congestion at Manila’s ports, according to Soliman, who claimed that only around 10 percent of cargo movements were proceeding on schedule while the rest faced backlogs.
Soliman said the congestion was already contributing to higher costs that are eventually passed on to consumers.
Instead of halting work, KM convenor Louie Montemar called for urgent talks among the government, shipping lines, port operators, container depots and truckers.
‘Port operations should continue while the government, shipping lines, port operators, container depots and truckers hold urgent talks. These should lead to concrete reforms, clear accountability and firm deadlines,’ Montemar said.
Soliman estimated that about 3,000 customs brokers would participate in the voluntary protest.
But port stakeholders were divided over the planned stoppage. The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), which represents roughly 60 percent of port-based truckers, has said it would not participate.