P15K per container port congestion charge questioned
The Philippine Sea Freight Forwarders Association Cebu Chapter (Pisfa-Cebu) is protesting the high cost of shipment charges including the additional P15,000 per container port congestion fee.
Carmel Salvador, Pisfa-Cebu president, told Cebu Daily News during an interview yesterday that the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry support the Pisfa-Cebu in their lobby for the resolution of the high shipment cost charged by the big shipping companies, on top of the usual container imbalance charge (CIC).
Salvador said her group and the major chambers will submit a position paper to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC), questioning the port congestion fee when, in fact, the Cebu port is not congested at all.
“These are unnecessary fees, on top of other charges imposed by shipping companies which are making imported goods much more expensive, among other downside effects,” she said.
She also said that the worsening port congestion in Manila has prompted shipping firms to divert some cargoes to other ports including Cebu and then ship these cargoes locally going to Manila.
She said that despite these additional cargoes, there is still no congestion in Cebu’s port so the congestion fee is unnecessary.
Because of this, the cost of imported goods are expected to be a bit more expensive especially this Christmas season, due to high cost of shipment, and other additional charges.
Salvador explained that aside from the usual international charges, importers are now paying additional shipment charge.
Meanwhile, exporters have incurred losses worth at least P20.2 million due to the congestion at Manila’s ports.
Citing a survey on the impact of port congestion to export industries conducted by the Export Development Council (EDC), the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. said in a statement that food and garment exporters have estimated their losses from cancelled orders and lost opportunities at around $300,000 to $450,000 or roughly about P13.5 million to P20.2 million since the port congestion began.
Salvador said imposing more charges could have a negative impact to trading which she said the government has been working on to improve in time for the Asean Economic Community which aims to open up trading among the 10 member countries.
She said the current situation defeats that goal and should be addressed as soon as possible.