Customs brokers hold 3-day strike starting today

MANILA, Philippines – There will be no movement of some 3,000 shipping containers at the Manila South Harbor when customs brokers hold a three-day strike starting today to express dismay over the “inefficient” implementation of the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) by Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI).

Mary Zapata, president of the Aduana Business Club Inc. (ABCI), said 400 customs brokers belonging to their group support the protest action from Dec. 16 to 18.

However, she admitted that their strike would not lead to another port congestion since the volume of shipment coming in at this time is lower compared to Decembers of previous years.

Some importers reportedly have their cargoes delivered earlier this year out of fear of delays if there would be another port congestion.

She estimated that about 400 customs brokers would join the protest and stop processing the release of their shipment for the next three days.

The customs brokers are asking for a review of TABS in the South Harbor that is being implemented by the ATI.

Zapata clarified that they could not be accused of being anti-TABS because they were even cited by the International Container Terminals Services Inc. (ICTSI), the port operator at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), for being one of the 20 top TAB users.

“We would want ATI to review and to revisit the manner of implementation of their services. Why is it so difficult to get an available slot from them? There should be a modification (in their system),” Zapata said.

The TABS is a web-based booking system. Customs brokers, forwarders, importers, exporters and cargo owners could choose the time slot for the delivery and withdrawal of their cargoes.