MICT back to normal, says ICTSI

The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) saw capacity return to “normal levels” after stakeholders moved to cut congestion that threatened a port shutdown in March in the midst of the Luzon lockdown.MICT, operated by billionaire Enrique Razon Jr.’s International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), indicated on Monday that overall terminal utilization went below 67 percent, or within what was considered the optimal operating range.

This comes from a high of nearly 100 percent in late March as unclaimed cargo containers, including those with food and essential supplies, were piling up in Manila’s ports amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

“Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our front-line employees and many port stakeholders, the terminal has been able to pull off this feat,” Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, said on Monday. “Efforts should continue, however, to ensure that we have no repeat of the dangerously low level of pullouts we experienced at the end of March and in early April,” he added.

The easing of congestion came after the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and Bureau of Customs issued an April 2 joint administrative order (JAO 20-01) outlining faster processing and penalties for overstaying containers.Under the rules, cargo containers staying in the port more than 30 days after discharge should be withdrawn within five days from the issuance of the guidelines or be considered abandoned, paving the way for the government to confiscate the goods.

The arrival of goods in Manila’s ports have also increased in the past week as shipments prior to the Luzon lockdown started to arrive, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said. INQ