THE Confederation of Philippine Exporters (PhilExport) Cebu Chapter has appealed to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Cebu Port Authority (CPA), Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor), Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) and Cebu Truckers Association to solve the shortage of cargo containers and congestion at the Cebu International Port (CIP).
In its position paper signed by PhilExport Cebu president Venus C. Genson, the group appealed for a quick solution to the congestion at the CIP and gridlock at the BOC Port of Cebu.
PhilExport also appealed for the immediate release or auction of goods seized by the BOC Port of Cebu in connection with its anti-smuggling drive.
PhilExport also appealed for the implementation of commitments for additional serviceable equipment such as x-ray machines and container handling equipment and manpower resources such as examiners by the port operators for the early resolution of the crisis.
Major concern
“The present congestion and gridlock at the Port of Cebu has indeed become a major concern, not only for importers but also for exporters as well. To avert a major catastrophe, which could lead to a serious paralysis of trade in the region, we the exporters, who also import raw materials, appeal for immediate corrective actions by the named service providers,” PhilExport said in its position paper.
PhilExport raised the following issues:
l exporters are having difficulty getting cargo containers due to a shortage caused by the slow turnover as a result of BOC’s seizure of suspected smuggled goods;
l trucking companies and exporters have experienced delays of up to 10 hours in moving outbound cargoes due to congestion;
l efficiency of service faltered due to reshuffling of customs personnel and the mandatory ocular inspection of incoming cargo containers; and
l exporters’ and importers’ costs are inflated due to the artificially-created shortage of cargo containers.
When sought for comment, Opascor president and general manager Tomas A. Riveral said the problem has been partially solved.
“But we are helping each other to solve this problem completely”, Riveral said.
For his part, Customs District Collector Roberto Almadin said they have instituted collective measures to solve it.
No more area to expand
“In our own shop, processing is almost ideal. CPA is looking for additional space since the port was intended only for 4,000 TEUs (containers) versus today’s 8,000 TEUs. Opascor will add more lifters and truckers agreed to do overtime to move TEUs,” Almadin said.
CPA general manager Edmund Tan said they have been meeting to resolve the issue.
“On the part of the CPA, we are addressing the shortage of space as apparently, there is no more area to expand. One area we are going to utilize as container yard is the area in the premises of the Compania Maritima,” Tan said.
Tan said they wrote the Cebu City Council to inform them about this.
CPA deputy general manager Yusoph Uckung, on the other hand, said the shortage of cargo containers can be addressed by the shipping lines. As to the congestion, Uckung said they are trying to find more spaces for cargo containers.