Manila-Subic shuttle service starts July 1

MANILA, Philippines - A cheaper and faster transport system that would ship containers from Manila to Subic would be available beginning next month, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced yesterday.

According to the SBMA, a Manila-Subic shuttle service operated by the PTC Agency & Transport, Inc. would serve as a common feeder for shipping lines serving locators and shippers in and around Northern Luzon.

The service would be available beginning July 1 at the Manila International Container Port.

It would operate twice a week.

According to SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia, the shuttle service is expected to make shipping more efficient as well as help address difficulties shipping lines and truckers face following the truck ban imposed by the Manila city government.

In late February, the city government of Manila started to implement an ordinance which restricts trucks from using city streets from 5 a.m to 9 p.m., to ease traffic congestion.

Garcia said the Subic Bay Freeport expects to generate additional income from the feeder service, as it would increase ship calls in the Subic free port.

“The common complaint of shippers in Manila is that we have very few ship calls here. But once the feeder service is established, eventually there will be an increase in container volume, thus attracting major shipping lines to make their calls here,” he said.

Given the latest development, Garcia said the SBMA also expects to double the current volume of cargo unloaded at Subic’s container terminal.

Garcia said Subic is a better alternative to shipping via Manila, as it would be cheaper and more convenient for shippers, especially those in Central and Northern Luzon.