MANILA: Overstaying container vans are being moved out of the congested ports of Manila to Subic Bay Freeport ahead of the expected upsurge in cargo movement during the Christmas season.
General Manager Juan Sta Ana of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said the vessel MV Asterix shipped out yesterday 1,154 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to Subic Freeport from the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).
The chartered vessel is expected to return over the weekend to remove the remaining containers, he added.
The PPA and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), along with port operators International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc have identified about 3,000 TEUs for removal from the ports of Manila.
The PPA is looking at a 10-fold increase in storage fees to decongest the ports of Manila. Cargoes staying beyond 15 days at port are seized.
Fees for unclaimed cargo would increase to P5,000 from the current P500 for 20-foot containers; P8,750 from P842 for 35-foot containers; P10,000 from P962.60 for 40-foot containers; and P11,250 from P1,082.90 for 45-foot containers.
At present, importers, exporters and brokers have a five-day grace period after BOC clearance to remove their containers.
Thereafter a storage fee would be imposed starting on the sixth day. Beyond 15 days, the cargo would be seized in favour of the government.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
