Truckers, brokers end truck holiday

MANILA, Philippines – Truckers and customs brokers belonging to the Aduana Business Club (ABC) ended yesterday their planned week-long truck holiday against the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS).

ABC president Mary Zapata said they decided to return to work and process the release of shipments with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“We have lifted the truck holiday but we will continue wearing t-shirts with  ‘No to TABS’ in protest of the new port booking system,” Zapata said.

Zapata reiterated their appeal to the BOC to abolish TABS or remove the excessive fees of up to P10,000 or they might hold another strike on March 14.

“Last Monday’s protest was successful. We believe we were able to show to the government and port operators our opposition to TABS,” she said.

Asian Terminals Inc. and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said the truck holiday did not affect their operations.

The ICTSI, which operates the Manila International Container Terminal, said other members of the group made transactions at the MICT and availed themselves of TABS bookings.

The BOC will implement TABS starting March 15.

It is a web-based system wherein brokers, forwarders and other port stakeholders can choose the time slot for the delivery and withdrawal of their shipments to ease the flow of cargo and traffic in the ports.