By Betheena Unite
Empty containers will no longer be allowed to enter the premises of two major ports in Manila without a special permit.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently announced that the entry of empty containers was already prohibited at the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port without a Special Permit to Load (SPTL).
Bureau of Customs (MANILA BULLETIN)
Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco, of the Assessment Operations and Collection Group reiterated the strict implementation of the rule through a memorandum dated June 25, 2019.
Dy Buco said that, under Customs Memorandum Order No. 13-2019, entry of empty containers was prohibited at designated areas at the International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) and the Asian Terminal (ATI) without an SPTL issued by the Container Control Division of either of the two ports.
According to the bureau, the order was issued “in order to arrest the problems of port congestion or high yard utilization due to unreturned empty containers and overstaying imports stored in the premises of ATI at the Port of Manila and ICTSI at the Manila International Container Port.
“Empty containers covered by SPTL shall only be moved to the designated areas within 72 hours prior to the scheduled date and time of loading of the carrying vessel for re-exportation abroad,” the bureau said in a statement.
On the other hand, empty containers not covered by SPTL and those with SPTL but arriving beyond 72 hours “shall not be allowed entrance at the designated areas of ATI and ICTSI.”