PPA: Manila ports' rice backlog under control, no congestion

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago assured the public on Monday that there is currently no port congestion in any of the country's ports.

Despite nearly a thousand container vans filled with imported rice sitting in Manila ports for months, Santiago said the situation remains under control and the Bureau of Customs has cleared these containers for release.

The PPA earlier reported over 888 shipping containers containing approximately 23 million kilograms of rice in Manila ports' container yards, noting that efforts are being made to address the issue.

Santiago expressed confidence that the number of overstaying containers would decrease by the end of the month and assured that the situation is under control.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel had previously called on the PPA to prioritize moving these rice stocks to increase supply and potentially lower retail prices, but noted that the 888 containers only represent .75 percent of total imported rice.

PPA leaves it to the Department of Agriculture or the Bureau of Plant Industry to speak with freight consignees concerning containers being left at ports for so long.