Port congestion could cause goods shortage, groups warn

MANILA, Philippines - Port congestion could cause a shortage in basic goods before the Christmas season, groups warned the government yesterday.

Aduana Business Club president Mary Zapata said more than 30 ships, carrying hundreds of containers loaded with imported meat, baby products, beauty products and hardware supplies have been stuck at the Manila International Container Port.

“This has an adverse, domino-like effort. The delay in delivering these goods from the port to the suppliers then to retailers like supermarkets puts ordinary consumers at the raw end of the deal,” Zapata said.

Stephen Cua of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association said the shortage is “bound to happen if they keep tightening up on the supplies waiting at the port.”

Zapata said that even legitimate importers are having a hard time with the Bureau of Customs.

She alleged that BOC personnel are imposing measures “that are way too strict” and the congestion is caused by the Philippine Ports Authority allowing “empty containers to go back, taking the space of newly landed cargo containers.”

Zapata said their group tried to talk with Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, the official tasked by Malacañang to resolve the problem of port congestion, “but he is mum on the issue.”