After a cumbersome year, the Philippine government is expecting Manila’s ports to be back to normal by early 2015, however, if congestion continues, it will seek to propose its own solutions.
Phil Star reported Philippine Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras as saying that his plan would be to solve the issues at Manila’s ports so that by February congestion problems should be over.
Philippine Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said: “There are more containers being taken out so that means there is [a] reduction on empty containers starting November. That’s a very big step to the solution.”
Even as more empty containers are being removed from the ports however, congestion remains, due to an irregular increase in the volume of imports, particularly construction-related materials.
Almendras said: “We are seeing [a] significant increase of importation of construction materials. We are seeing, and even the ports outside are telling us, some of them are reporting 20% increase in the volume of cargo coming in for construction and capital goods”
Congestion has been an issue at Manila’s ports for some time, with International Container Terminal Services investing in its terminal at Manila in an effort to solve the ongoing problem.
The Philippine government has also considered building a port island in order to handle containers and liquid bulk.
Philippine Government in Manila Congestion Pledge. (Source: Rappler)
