ATI wants IT dispatch scheme instead of truck ban

MANILA, Philippines–Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) is pushing for a “sophisticated IT vehicle booking system” (VBS) in place of a truck ban in Manila to keep businesses humming and the economy growing.

In a letter to the Philippine Exporters Confederation, ATI executive vice president Andrew Hoad said the system will allow trucks “controlled” 24-hour access to the ports without causing heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

This is similar to how airlines book their flight’s departure and arrival for optimal airport efficiency and traffic management, he said.

The proposal will require a central system that will link brokers and consignees. Those that come unscheduled will be turned away and penalized, he said.

“It will allow those who book to plan quicker, more cost-effective journeys and at the same time reduce the number of trucks on the road at any given time. There is therefore no need for a truck ban if this system were put in place,” said Hoad.

Also, he said that the business community can help by nominating in letters of credit to suppliers and customers Batangas as their port if their business is in Calabarzon, thus reducing the number of trucks that need to transport the containers from Manila to the south.

Right now, Hoad said Batangas is fully equipped and can handle an estimated 300,000 TEUs or twenty-foot containers. Of this capacity, more than 90 percent is still available.

“Obviously, we can take in more volumes in Batangas. But it is still not the primary answer to road congestion in Metro Manila because the two ports serve two different markets,” he said.

Hoad explained that of the 2 million TEUs that pass through Manila’s port, some 1.7 million TEUs are delivered within a 20-kilometer radius around Metro Manila where the bulk of the consumer population is.