International Container Terminals Services Inc. said operational levels at the Manila International Container Terminal have returned to normal as utilization rate is now at under 67 percent.
The port operator owned by business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. said MICT’s reefer utilization stood at under 65 percent, with cargo pullouts during the enhanced community quarantine peaking last week.
The pullouts last week do not include numerous containers of unclaimed cargo, carefully transferred to other yards and facilitated by the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Ports Authority.
Moreover, all incoming ships are able to dock as scheduled, with no waiting time.
“Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our frontline employees and many port stakeholders, the terminal has been able to pull off this feat. 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,” said Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president.
“The statistics have proven that government implemented exemptions for cargo and penalties for overstayers worked and that these, along with the efforts of importers, have avoided the unmanageable consequences we would have had if we did not respond as we did,” he said.