Palace: Port congestion a continuing challenge

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang conceded yesterday that Manila’s port congestion would be a continuing challenge even as it announced that the problem had been resolved as of late February.

“Of course, government is aware that seasons change and that there are different needs depending on a particular season,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio station dzRB as she assured that the administration would strive to keep the Port of Manila free from congestion.

Valte said government “anticipates” the increase in the volume of cargo during certain months of the year.

Business groups have remained skeptical of claims made by the government that operations at the Port of Manila have “completely normalized” and that congestion has been resolved.

Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. president Dan Lachica said he does not know how many more Philippine-bound shipping containers were still backlogged in Kaoshiung, Singapore, Hong Kong and other ports outside Manila.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said although it was true that the utilization of the port had gone down from a high of 105 percent last year to about 80 percent, the ideal utilization should be around 60 to 70 percent.

Early this year, the World Bank recommended investment in infrastructure as the long-term measure for the Philippines to solve the worsening congestion problems on roads and in ports in Metro Manila.