Manila: The Philippine government claimed yesterday that the capital’s year-long port congestion issues are over.
“There was a time that the ports and all the container yards were flooded with empty containers. As of the end of February 2015, this is no longer the situation,” secretary to the cabinet Jose Rene Almendras said in a statement.
“Over the past three weeks, the ships with berthing schedules were accommodated accordingly. For ships that arrive unscheduled, they were able to dock within 24 to 60 hours from arrival,” he said.
From a high of 105% utilization rate during the height of the truck ban in May 2014 to the present 79% to 84% utilization rates, both the International Container Terminal Services, Inc terminal and Asian Terminals Inc terminal show improved efficiency, he added.
“Although most of the solutions were implemented early in the last quarter of 2014, the sheer volume of the backlog needed several months to be resolved. The long Christmas holidays, Typhoon Amang in January, the feast of the Black Nazarene and Pope Francis’ visit – all constricted the movements and extended the period of resolution,” Almendras said.
