MANILA – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Wednesday said there is no congestion at two of the country’s largest ports as well as other state-run ports, with the average dwell-time for containers at these ports at an all-time low.
In a statement, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said all ports under the agency’s jurisdiction—including the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and South Harbor—have a yard utilization rate of 70 percent, indicating that all state-run ports are running well within capacity.
“The average dwell time for containers at PPA-managed ports stands at 5.4 days, which is the lowest in history and just 0.4 days beyond the free storage period of five days. This suggests that most cargoes are processed and released within the free storage period,” Santiago said.
He noted that some rice container shipments are taking longer to be withdrawn by their consignees, with some shipments remaining at these ports for over 20 days despite having been cleared by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
“This situation has contributed to perceived delays in rice shipments and possible artificial increases in rice prices,” he said.
From January to June 2024, the total container throughput in PPA ports reached 3.73 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), reflecting a 1.88 percent increase compared to 3.67 million TEUs handled in the same period last year.
He is anticipating an increase in cargo volume and a boost in productivity at the ports with the upcoming holiday season.
“The PPA is preparing to accommodate this surge by enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring that all necessary resources are in place,” he said.
He reassured the public of the PPA’s commitment to minimize disruptions and enhance the overall efficiency of port operations.
“We appreciate the continued cooperation and support from our private operators, as we strive to improve service delivery and better meet the needs of the public,” he said. (PNA)
