PPA bats for new cargo lanes to prep up for peak season

cargo trucks

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is pushing for additional trade routes or lanes where  truckers can pass during truck ban hours in Manila, in preparation for the expected surge of cargoes characterizing the onset of the holiday season.

 

“We need more trade lanes to be approved by local government units, so trucks can travel freely. Peak season is here next month and more cargoes are coming in,” said PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana recently in reply to a text message from Business Mirror.

 

Peak  season sees the Manila port servicing a daily average of 7,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of import shipments, up by about 35 per cent from the usual daily average of 5,000 TEUs.

 

Mr. Sta. Ana further said that the additional lanes will help ease inflation pressure caused by port congestion.

 

This is a response to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco’s earlier statement that “a bumpy inflation ride” is expected in the short term, partly due to the persisting congestion at Manila ports.

 

In July, a 4.9 per cent inflation rate  was observed in the prices of widely-used goods, faster than the 4.4 percent increase noted in June.

 

PPA will be requesting LGUs to increase the number of cargo routes so trucks turn around can increase to about 3 days from 1.5 days.

 

It will also ask the Manila city government to open an additional eight routes to make a total of ten from the current two.

 

Mr. Sta. Ana further said more lanes opened up could help bring yard utilization level in Manila ports back to the ideal 80 per cent, which at present is at 89 per cent.

Photo: from newsinfo.inquirer.net