Govt eyes ultimatum for overstaying cargoes at Manila ports

The government is issuing an ultimatum for the withdrawal of overstaying cargoes at Manila ports to decongest the facilities and allow the entry of essential goods like food and medicine during the COVID-19 quarantine.

A Joint Administrative Order (JAO) is being finalized by multiple government agencies, including the DTI, PPA, BOC, DOF, and DA, to implement this policy.

Under the proposed JAO, cargoes overstaying for more than 30 days must be withdrawn within five days from its effectivity, or they will be considered abandoned.

Containers scheduled to arrive after the JAO's issuance will have 10 days to be withdrawn, with penalties imposed by the PPA for non-compliance.

Refrigerated containers have a stricter withdrawal period of seven days, with chilled cargoes given only five days, and unclaimed reefers have a three-day grace period before being declared abandoned.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez emphasized that port congestion disrupts the supply chain, potentially increasing prices and hindering the delivery of vital supplies for frontliners.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases previously directed the PPA to clear the ports of overstaying containers.

Port congestion has reached near maximum capacity at Manila's international ports due to idle, cleared cargoes following the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine.