BROKERS COMMEND BOC CHIEF FOR COMMITMENT TO SOLVE EMPTY CONTAINER PROBLEM
But stakeholders eye October 5 as start of ‘work holiday’
THE Professional Customs Brokers’ Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PCBAPI), praised Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel. F, Nepomuceno for going out of his way in assuring them that the government is committed to resolving the long-standing problem of empty container returns, especially in the country’s two major ports in Manila.
Rey Soliman, PCBAPI chair, in an update to their members thru their group Viber chat last September 24, said he and PCBAPI President Saturnino ‘Ino’ Galang had meeting a day before in Makati with Commissioner Nepomuceno and his immediate staff where they were presented with the ‘final draft’ of the proposed ‘Joint Administrative Order’ (JAO).
Already several months in the making, the JAO seeks to many of the concerns of customs brokers, truckers, and others in the logistics chain such as the issue of empty container returns.
The urgent meeting also happened just hours before customs brokers and truckers’ groups held a meeting in Manila to agree on their next course of action to address the problem, including the possibility of holding a “holiday” or a strike to compel the authorities to act.
Mary Zapata, president of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), told Pinoy Exposé afterwards they would have another “planning meeting” this September 30 for the schedule of the planned mass action. “Tinitingnan pa namin ang sitwasyon,” Zapata said but added they are initially eyeing October 5, the first Monday of the month, as the day of the strike.
Reporting on their meeting with Commissioner Nepomuceno, Soliman said: “The PCBAPI leadership is thankful to Commissioner Nepomuceno for inviting the chairperson for a ‘coffee break’ where we are handed the final draft of the JAO for ‘on the spot’ comments and inputs.”
Soliman further informed their members they are pleased that majority of their recommendations have been incorporated in the final draft, including the obligations and penalties of international shipping lines.
He added they “support” the JAO as presently worded. “We were asked to review the final draft so our comments can be incorporated. We noticed it is 90 percent satisfactory, so it is okay.”
Soliman said the Customs Chief informed them that the document is already with Finance Secretary Frederick Go.
However, Commissioner Nepomuceno also gave them his pragmatic assessment, noting the JAO may be finally approved and implemented early next year.
The JAO would be a tripartite agreement between the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) along with their respective attached agencies, namely: Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).
Stakeholders in the country’s sea-borne trade are covered by the JAO, namely: international shipping lines and their shipping agents, truck operators, OCY (off-dock container yard) operators, port terminal (arrastre) and ICY (international container yard) operators, importers or exporters and customs brokers.
In previous talks, Commissioner Nepomuceno told Pinoy Exposé that as a businessman himself, Secretary Go is very much concerned about the current plight of those in the country’s logistics chain such as truckers and customs brokers and wants the problem solved.
The Finance Secretary’s determination is reflected under Rule II, Section 8 of the JAO that empowers the BOC to be the “led agency” in its “overall implementation.”
Soliman also bared that Commissioner Nepomuceno promised to look into their problem of “pass thru” permit for empty trucks entering the Manila International Container Port (MICT).
“Napag-usapan din, kasi additional cost at abala na ‘yung bare truck ay kailangan pa kumuha ng PID (Piers and Inspection Division) clearance eh wala naman dala.”
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