The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said it is looking to impose a deadline for importers storing refrigerated containers in local container yards.
PPA chief Jay Santiago said it’s becoming a headache for the regulator with the area for plugged refrigerated containers hitting a 100-111% utilization rate, meaning it’s already at over capacity.
“Pinapanawagan nga po naming sa mga kababayan natin na nag-iimport po ng mga refrigerated products, i-pull out na yung mga produkto nila … Ito po ay nakakaantala doon sa mabilis na pagproseso ng refrigerated containers,” Santiago told DZRH.
The PPA chief said keeping the containers in limbo is likely a strategy by importers penalties imposed by port operators are still smaller than renting private warehouses elsewhere.
“Ang amin pong panukala, mag-iimpose na po tayo ng deadline or penalty diyan kapag yan po ay hindi pa pinull out as of a certain number of days either one, yan ay ililipat namin,” Santiago added. “Or two, yan po ay dadagdagan natin ng penalty para mapull out na po ng mga kababayan natin.”