PPA chief says ‘currently’ no congestion at any ports

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago says that “currently” there is no congestion at its ports nationwide. Santiago gave this assurance Monday, September 23, 2024, following reports that 888 container vans of rice were discovered sitting in Manila ports for months.  | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said that “currently” there is no congestion at its ports nationwide.

Santiago gave this assurance Monday, following reports that 888 container vans of rice were discovered sitting in Manila ports for months.

It also came after Department of Agriculture (DA) chief Francisco Tiu Laurel attributed rice’s high prices to port congestion, which might have delayed the release of rice imports.

READ: DA to PPA: Speed up release of 20M kilos of imported rice

“Gusto lamang naming i-assure ang sambayanan na wala po tayong currently nai-experience na port congestion po sa ating mga pantalan,” Santiago said in a Palace press briefing.

(We just want to assure the public that we are not currently experiencing any port congestion at our ports.)

According to the PPA head, the Bureau of Customs has already cleared the 888 containers for release and may already be pulled out by the shipping consignees.

“And we look forward na sa mga darating pa pong mga araw hanggang katapusan po ng buwang ito ay tuluyan pa pong mababawasan iyong mga overstaying containers natin diyan na naglalaman ng bigas,” said Santiago.

(And we look forward to the fact that in the coming days until the end of this month, the overstaying containers that contain rice will be completely reduced.)

READ: Slowdown in rice imports seen by September 2024

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

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the 888 containers contained 23 million kilos or 23,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.

But he also noted that the containers only carried .75 percent of the total 3,093,000 MT of imported rice.