The Bureau of Customs has banned the entry of empty containers at the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port without Special Permit to Load, officials said.
Customs Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dybuco of the Assessment Operations and Collection Group issued a memorandum to all offices concerned including the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. and the Association of International Shipping Lines on the entry of empty trucks to the country’s two main ports.
Dybuco’s order is aimed at solving the problems of port congestion or high yard utilization due to unreturned empty containers and overstaying imports stored in the premises of ATI, POM and ICTSI at MICP.
He said empty containers covered by SPTL could only be moved to the designated areas within 72 hours prior to the scheduled date and time of loading of the carrying vessel for re-exportation abroad.
“While empty containers not covered by SPTL and those with SPTL but arriving beyond 72 hours shall not be allowed entrance at the designated areas of ATI and ICTSI,” the order stated.
Earlier, the Container Depot Alliance of the Philippines warned that another incident of port congestion might occur in Manila if BOC would allow consignees to return empty containers directly to terminals.