BOC chief, port operators to assess truck ban impact on Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Anticipating a possible recurrence of the port congestion, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will meet the two port operators to assess the impact of the reimposition of the truck ban in Metro Manila, Customs deputy commissioner Arturo Lachica said yesterday.

Lachica said BOC commissioner Alberto Lina will schedule a meeting with the Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).

The ATI operates in the Port of Manila, while the ICTSI runs operations at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

Lachica said the meeting would take place within the week.

Lachica said port congestion would most likely be a primary concern in the forthcoming meeting.

“This meeting is an anticipatory move on the part of the Bureau of Customs so this kind of situation would not recur, given the new policy on the truck ban. So this would still have to be discussed,” he said.

The truck ban was reimposed last Tuesday in an effort to ease the flow of traffic in Metro Manila under Resolution No. 03 of the Metro Manila Council (MMC)’s Special Traffic Committee titled “Reimplementing the Uniform Truck Regulation in Metro Manila Except Northern Truck Route.”

The ban on trucks and heavy vehicles in all roads in Metro Manila would be implemented from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., except Sundays and holidays.

However, trucks using the northern route would be exempt.             

It was also earlier reported that under the MMC a total ban on trucks and heavy vehicles, regardless of weight, would be strictly implemented along EDSA and the central business districts of Ortigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City from Monday to Sunday.

However, trucks using the portion of EDSA in going to the South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway are allowed.

The MMC also said trucks would not be allowed to park at any time of the day on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

Trucks loaded with perishable and agricultural cargo are, however, exempted from the truck ban hours, the MMC said.

Drivers violating the truck ban hours would be made to pay a P2,000 fine, while the license of the erring truck driver would be suspended for a year after he is apprehended three times for violating truck ban rules.

No tax increase

Lachica, on the other hand, assured the public there would be no increase in taxes for balikbayan boxes.

Lachica gave the assurance before the OFWs Advocates Coalition during a dialogue held at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) main office in Pasay City yesterday.

“Any increase that we will impose with the freight forwarder, if there would be any, we would have consultations… There is nothing to fear from taxes. It will go through consultative process,” he said.

The BOC was severely criticized over the random inspection of balikbayan boxes. It was also reported that in some countries they have already implemented a P80,000 to P120,000 increase in the shipment cost of consolidated cargoes, such as those from the US.

Lachica assured the OFWs that their balikbayan boxes would be treated differently. “I mean they would be treated sensitively and with much care,” he said.

Aside from the mandatory X-ray inspection of balikbayan boxes instead of the random physical inspection, the BOC has asked OWWA and the OFWs to have a representative to assist them in opening boxes suspected to contain smuggled goods.

They would also be asking the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to provide them with the list of legitimate OFWs.

The BOC has also created Facebook accounts to allow the public to air their grievances or post their inquiries.