port of manila

Bam to Port Stakeholders: Be Ready for ‘Ber’ Months

With “ber” months just days away, Senator Bam Aquino urged government and private stakeholders to work together to ensure that there will be no repeat of the congestion that hounded Port of Manila last year.

 “Now that we have learned our lesson from last year, we must not let our guard down. This early, we must ensure that congestion will not hamper port operation during the coming ‘ber’ months,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Usually, Aquino said heavy volume of containers arrive from September to December, in time for the Christmas season.

“Sa ngayon, normal ang operasyon at maluwag pa ang ating mga pantalan.  Ngunit maaaring maulit ang port congestion sa inaasahang pagdagsa ng mga kargamento sa huling bahagi ng taon,” added Sen. Bam.

Early this year, Sen. Bam has initiated a probe on the congestion that occurred at the Port of Manila. After bringing government agencies and private stakeholders in one table, the problem has been ironed out after several months of investigation.

During the last hearing, stakeholders reported that the utilization rate at the Port of Manila is now between 70 to 80 percent. In addition, waiting time for trucks has improved while cargo ships can now load or unload cargoes in just mere hours, instead of days at the height of the congestion year.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam expects the passage of the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act or Republic Act 10688 to help decongest the country’s major ports. The law now allows foreign ships carrying imported cargoes and cargoes to be exported out of the country to dock in multiple ports.

“This will save time, costs and energy for our exporters and importers in sending their raw materials, and goods and products in and out of the country,” the senator added.

“By allowing foreign ships to go directly to other domestic ports around the country, it will lower production costs for our entrepreneurs, free up space in the Port of Manila, improve the import and export system of the country,” Sen. Bam said.

It will also turn the shipping industry into a more modern, more equipped and more competitive sector, enabling it to keep up with other ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

BIDA KA!: Paluwagin ang masikip

Mga Bida, isa sa mainit na usapin nitong mga nagdaang araw ang isyu ng port congestion o pagsisikip ng Port of Manila.

Noon pa pala nararanasan ang problemang ito ngunit ngayon lang nabigyan ng todong pansin nang magpahayag ng pangamba ang maraming negosyante. May mga nagsasabi na ito ang dahilan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng ilang mahahalagang bilihin.

Mga Bida, kung wala kayo sa Maynila, ang isyu rito ay may kinalaman sa pisikal na kondisyon ng pantalan ng Maynila. Libu-libong container ngayon ang nakatambak sa pantalan kaya wala nang magalawan ang mga truck.

Dahil sa bagal ng paglabas ng container mula sa Port of Manila, wala na ring mapaglagyan ang mga bagong dating na container.

Maihahambing ang sitwasyong ito sa pagsalok ng tubig sa balde gamit ang tabo. Hindi mababawasan ang laman ng timba kung malakas at tuluy-tuloy ang tulo ng tubig mula sa gripo.

Hindi tulad ng ibang problema na wala sa ating mga kamay ang dahilan at solusyon, ang suliraning ito ay kontrolado natin at kayang resolbahin, basta’t sama-sama ang lahat ng sektor.

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Kaya agad akong nagpatawag ng imbestigasyon upang malaman ang punu’t dulo ng problema at makapaglatag ng agarang solusyon at pangmatagalang plano.

Noong nakaraang linggo nga, nagsama-sama sa iisang kuwarto ang iba’t ibang sangay ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor para talakayin ang problema.

Sa nasabing pulong, naglatag ng ilang short-term na solusyon para pansamantalang maibsan ang pagsisikip.

Kabilang dito ang pagtatrabaho ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno tuwing Sabado, Linggo at umaga ng Lunes, at mas maagang pagbubukas ng mga bangko na malapit sa pantalan para agad masimulan ang mga transaksyon.

Sa bahagi naman ng Maynila, nagbukas na sila ng bagong lanes para mas mabilis ang labas-masok at pagbiyahe ng mga trak na dala ang mga container.

Naglaan naman ang Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) zones ng lugar para paglagyan ng mga container na nasamsam ng Bureau of Customs at mga basyong container na nakatengga lang sa pantalan.

Kasabay ng mga pansamantalang solusyon na ito, nangako naman ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan, sa pangunguna ni Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, na maglalatag ng pangmatagalan na plano at solusyon.

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Dahil nga patuloy ang paglago ng ating ekonomiya, marapat lang na magkaroon ng pangmatagalang plano upang hindi na muling mangyari ang problemang ito.

Isa sa tinitingnang solusyon ay ang Port of Batangas at Port of Subic ngunit maliit lang ang kapasidad ng dalawang pantalang ito. Hindi makakayanan ng mga ito ang dagsa ng pumapasok na mga container.

Kasama rin sa pinag-aaralang remedyo ay ang pagsasaa­yos ng pagpapatakbo ng Port of Manila at pagtatayo ng isa pang port na mangangailangan ng bilyun-bilyong piso.

Kasabay ng paglaki ng ekonomiya ay ang pag-aayos ng ating pantalan kaya ito ay dapat masuportahan.

Ngayong ginugunita natin ang ika-31 anibersaryo ng pagkamatay ni dating Senador Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., natanong ako ng isang reporter kung paano ako makakatugon sa pamanang alaala at tagumpay ng aking Tito.

Ang sabi ko, ngayong ako’y isang senador na, maipapa­kita ko ito sa patuloy na pagtatrabaho para sa taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa ng mga batas na tututok sa kanilang kapakanan.

Noong siya’y nabubuhay pa, hindi lang kalayaan at demokrasya ang pinaglaban ni Tito Ninoy, pati na rin ang kapa­kanan at kasaganaan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino ay naging mahalagang ipaglaban din.

 

First Published on Abante Online

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the 2nd Port Congestion Hearing

Iyong problema natin sa port congestion, physically, medyo gumaganda na. Iyong paglabas ng mga containers tumataas na.  In fact, mas mataas na siya bago nagkaroon ng truck ban.

Pero iyong charges, naroon pa rin. Iyong increased charges na iyan ang nagdudulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

We really have to look at the charges that are being imposed on the different stakeholders.

Iyong isang pinanggagalingan ng charges, mula sa shipping lines, we need to see kung justifiable ba talaga ang charges na iyon o hindi.

Mayroong mga charges na opisyal at mayroon ding unofficial o iyong tinatawag nating under the table. Iyon din, kailangang matigil din para mabalik natin ang sitwasyon iyong bago ang truck ban at ma-prevent natin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

 

Q: Iimbitahan ba ang shipping lines sa next hearing?

A: Yes. Ganito kasi iyan, iyong truckers pag dinadala iyong container, dinadala iyan to a specific container yard. At iyong partnership na iyon ay between the container yard at shipping line.

So walang rason, pagdating ng trucker doon sa container yard, sasabihan siya wala nang space. Ibig sabihin doon, hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakaunawaan ang container yard at shipping line.

Ang trucker naman, pinaalis siya walang space, dumadami ang oras na naha-hire siya, tumataas ang sinisingil niya sa importer. Ang importer naman i-cha-charge iyon sa taumbayan.

Kaninong responsibilidad na mayroong container yard, siyempre sa mga shipping lines iyon.

Ang masakit diyan, iyong shipping lines natin, kapag late binalik ang container, icha-charge ka pa rin.

In short, some of these charges need to be investigated. DTI has volunteered na tipunin ang mga shipping lines. I-analyze ang mga charges na ito at tingnan kung ano ba ang justifiable at iyon ba ang mamimihasa na lang. Nag-iba na ang sitwasyon at kailangan nang ibalik iyon sa dati.

 

Q:  Mas gusto pa nga nilang nade-delay, dahil higher ang charges ng shipping lines.

 A: Hindi lang shipping lines.

Marami pong mga elemento, na may gusto nilang may delay, gusto nila may inefficiency at gusto nilang may congestion kasi nakakapag-charge sila, nakakahingi sila under the table, ang talo diyan ang taumbayan.

Kaya dapat isa-isahin natin ito at tingnan natin ang mga charges na unjustifiable na. Ano ba ang mga proseso na nakakadagdag sa problema, legal processes.

We talked to Customs and BIR today, baka may proseso sila na dapat bawasan na and of course, i-curb natin ang corruption.

Sabi nila noon daw, may pang-tip sila, tagbe-bente pesos, iyong mga ganun daw libu-libo na daw ngayon.

We have to stop that and we can only stop that one is meron tayong monitoring, two mayroon tayong enforcement may nakukulong dahil sa bribes na iyan. At hindi lang siya sa government dahil sa private sector may pangyayari ding ganyan.

Pangatlo, we really need to push for technology dahil ito ang nakikitang solusyon dito. Kung mayroon tayong ticketing system o tracking system, hindi na magkakaroon na nagta-trapik sila, nagsasabay-sabay, nakapila sa port na wala namang negosyong makukuha.

If we have that technology, which these days din a ganun kahirap iyon, and they were following the system, it will help our truckers in terms of their efficiency and at the same time, puwede pang bumaba ang kanilang sinisingil dahil mas efficient sila.

 

Q: Do you agree to the proposal na no-human contact, no-paper policy?

 A: Ganoon po talaga dapat. As soon as possible dapat. In  fairness, kumuanti na nang kumaunti iyon through the years. Ngayon, talagang less and less na ang nakikita mo.

Pero siguro if we can implement that, not just for port operations, but for BIR and Customs, it will help solve corruption.

 

Q: May ilang foreign business groups na nagsabing they will stop business sa Pilipinas kapag di na-solve ang port congestion.

A: Kung mayroon silang mga issue, temporary lang iyan. Kung tutuusin, iyong ekonomiya natin ngayon, we’re the best economy in the ASEAN.

Mahihirapan sila na hindi i-access ang market natin. Maybe pansamantala, they’re having some issues but as fast as we solve this problem, they will be back because this is a huge market.

They need the Philippines to do business well.

 

Q: So hindi dapat balewalain ang threat na iyon?

 A: Siyempre hindi. Lahat ng negosyo dito iyong ang hinihikayat natin. We want more foreign investments in the Philippines, we want more trade to happen. That’s why patuloy itong mga hearing at patuloy ang pagresolba ng isyung ito.

 

Q: Do you think we can manage the influx of goods this Christmas season?

 A:  Since we started this hearing, marami nang improvements. Each step na may bagong improvement, may bago ring na-uncover na problema.

Palagay ko, ang kinakailangan naming gawin, bilang Committee on Trade, is to make sure na ang solusyon natin all the way.

Hindi puwedeng halfway lang. Pakakawalan natin and in a year’s time, ito na naman ang problema.

We have to go all the way.

If you notice na sa hearing natin, we went from short term to medium term to long term. The best way to resolve these issues, gawin natin ang short term sa mabilis na panahon pero huwag pakawalan ang medium at long term solutions kasi iyon ang magdidikta kung mangyayari pa ito uli o we can really move forward and improve our port situation and our economy and make sure na hindi magtaasan ang presyo ng produkto.

 

Speed Up Decongestion of Port to Ease Traffic – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to speed up the process of port decongestion so as not to further burden the motorists and commuters who are already affected by the everyday traffic jams in Metro Manila.

“While decongesting Port of Manila is important, we must also guarantee that the public interest and welfare will not be compromised,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

At the same time, the lawmaker called on concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to ensure that traffic enforcers are in place to help alleviate the traffic problem.

Aquino also appealed to the public to bear with the heavy traffic in the next two weeks due to the government’s campaign to decongest the Port of Manila.

“We ask the public to further stretch their patience as the government solves the port decongestion problem that we are facing right now,” said Aquino.

Aquino said the government has no other recourse but to implement drastic measures to decongest the country’s main port, saying this problem will worsen if not immediately addressed.

“Many businesses will be affected and prices of goods will go up if this port congestion problem persists and we must not allow this to happen,” the senator explained.

Aquino said the public would ultimately benefit once the port congestion problem is solved.

From September 8 to 21, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement the last mile route, which will enable trucks to ply main roads, even during truck ban hours, provided that they carry cargo for shipment to their designated end-points.

Last month, Aquino’s committee investigated the port congestion problems and came up with several proposals to help solve the problem.

During the hearing, the city of Manila agreed to open more trade lane routes for trucks while concerned government agencies committed to work during weekends to hasten the releasing process in the port.

Sen. Aquino’s committee is expected to visit the Port of Manila later this month to check if there are improvements or if additional changes are necessary.

Decongest Manila Port – Sen. Bam

 

The Port of Manila has been experiencing congestion and logistical problems, which has resulted in higher prices of goods in different parts of the country, according to Senator Bam Aquino.

“The Manila Port has had logistical nightmares recently and thus, delay in the delivery of goods and services to the provinces,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Aquino said he received reports of shortage in medical equipment such as dental needles and anaesthetics in Mindanao due to the slow movement of shipments from Manila.

“The prices of dental needles went up from P600 to almost P2,000. Even if you have the money, still you cannot find one in drugstores and other medical companies because of delay in arrival of supplies from Manila,” Aquino stressed.

Logistical problem has also affected the manufacturing sector due to the late arrival of needed raw materials, hampering their production and delivery schedule.

The delay in the delivery of shipment of rice, garlic and onions also contributed to the high prices of such goods in the market.

“Businesses are affected by delays in the delivery of their shipment, forcing them to increase prices to recoup losses. The increase will then be shouldered by the helpless consumers,” the senator said.

The senator called on the administration of the Manila Port, local government of Manila, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other stakeholders to find a “win-win” solution that will address supply problem, reduce prices of commodities and solve the perennial traffic problem, all at the same time.

“I believe that all of our major problems are addressed when stakeholders gather together to solve it,” said Aquino.

Aquino said stakeholders should consider using other ports, such as the Port of Batangas, Subic and Davao, as alternative unloading points for cargo and shipments to decongest the Port of Manila.

“If the cargo is headed to Pangasinan or La Union, it would be wise to have it unloaded in Subic. This way, time and money will be saved,” Aquino said.

“If these cargoes are diverted to other ports, the number of trucks roaming around Manila will be reduced, resulting to better traffic conditions. It will be a win-win solution for everybody,” Aquino said.

 

 

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