The Government will undertake several measures to ease traffic and decongest ports in Metro Manila, Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. said.

Mr. Coloma held a news briefing Thursday to talk about policy issues taken up by an executive panel consisting of the heads of the Finance, Transportation and Trade departments, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

“On the congestion at the Port of Manila... there’s already an ongoing implementation of measures agreed with port users and they’re hoping to bring back to normal the situation in the Port of Manila by Aug. 16,” Mr. Coloma said.

Earlier, the government had outlined a course of action aimed at the efficient processing and movement of traded goods.

Among other steps, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) will implement a 30-day limit for cargo to be moved, to ensure no shipments stay too long at ports.

Also, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary will look into the utilization of government properties as storage areas for seized cargo.

And to ensure their fast and efficient processing, port operations will continue during weekends and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the BoC will continue to process goods in ports on a 24/7 basis.

The government is also working to promote the Batangas and Subic ports outside Metro Manila, to limit the volume of goods passing through Metro Manila ports.

NO APPREHENSION’ POLICY

In a related development, Malacañang upheld Thursday the MMDA’s policy on out-of-line buses and on trucks with green plates plying commercially without authority.

Before the Palace stepped in, the LTFRB’s “no apprehension” policy on trucks had caused a rift with the MMDA, which said it will defy this and other circulars by the board.

“Colorum trucks and out-of-line buses will be apprehended as the government continues to rationalize the routes of provincial and city buses,” Mr. Coloma said.

“Trucks-for-hire still using green plates are allowed to operate while in the process of applying for provisional authority with the LTFRB until 15 August 2014. Effective Aug. 16, 2014, trucks without provisional authority will be apprehended and fined,” he added.

Trucks with green plates but are not for hire, the communications secretary said further, may ask for an exemption valid for three years, which the government will grant for free for the next three months. “But this does not mean they are not covered by the truck ban,” he said.

Sought for comment, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Vice-President Henry J. Schumacher said in a text message: “I am delighted that these inclusive stakeholder meetings take place in an effort to keep the economy going as failure to address the multitude of issues will affect trade and production, and harm the national economy. The private sector is in standby to assist.”

For his part, Management Association of the Philippines President Gregorio S. Navarro said the government needs a comprehensive solution “that considers the cost of lost man hours to traffic, the increased cost of doing business in the Philippines, delays in delivery commitments and penalties for such delays, and the inflationary effects of all of these to prices and prospective investors in the country.”

Source: Business World, 08 August 2014