BOC asks shipping firms to scrap port congestion fee
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu is asking shipping lines to stop charging the $200 port congestion fee that they impose on importers as there is no congestion in the Port of Cebu.
Kenneth Sesante, BOC chief of staff, said the amount is charged per container van.
“District Collector Roberto Almadin is appealing to the shipping lines to scrap off or stop the port congestion fee because there is no port congestion here in Cebu,” Sesante said.
Rene Bacon, Cebu International Port (CIP) manager, said shipping firms started implementing the port congestion fee in March this year.
But he said that despite the imposition of port congestion fee, there is still a 20 percent increase in container van arrival at the CIP.
Sesante said businessmen and other importers have complained at the BOC regarding the imposition of port congestion fee.
Sesante said port congestion was only experienced at the Port of Cebu in Novemeber last year after super typhoon Yolanda hit the country because of the influx of vans containing donated items.
At least 2,000 container vans arrive at the CIP weekly and 450 vans are released a day.
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