The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO) has refused to join a weeklong “Rest Day” protest at Manila ports, warning that a halt in cargo movements could disrupt supply chains and hurt consumers.
ACTOO Vice President Rina Papa said the group opted out of the protest, which began October 5, arguing that the trucking industry needs concrete solutions to port congestion rather than a work stoppage that could further delay cargo deliveries.
“Going on strike, protesting are legitimate actions but this comes with responsibility,” Papa told 105.1 Brigada News in Filipino.
“There’s a time for protests. But it is not now,” she added.
Papa acknowledged the industry’s persistent operational problems, particularly delays in returning empty shipping containers, which she said have stretched from two weeks to a month.
Such delays tie up trucks and constrain their availability for other cargo movements, adding pressure to an already strained logistics system. But Papa warned that suspending operations could compound the problem by slowing the movement of goods through the ports.
She also questioned the commitment of some operators publicly supporting the protest, alleging that certain trucking firms continued hauling cargo despite declaring their backing for the work stoppage.
ACTOO’s decision not to participate, she stressed, should not be interpreted as weakness but as a preference for measures that address the industry’s problems without further disrupting trade.
“We want clear, concrete, and grounded solutions to the problems faced by truckers and the entire logistics sector,” Papa said.
Consumer groups CitizenWatch and Konsyumer at Mamamayan also warned that the port protest could affect the movement of essential goods and put upward pressure on prices. They urged government agencies and industry stakeholders to address congestion without stopping cargo operations.
The dispute highlights the challenge facing the logistics sector: truckers need relief from persistent port bottlenecks, but any disruption to cargo movements risks adding costs and delays for businesses and consumers.
The priority for ACTOO is to resolve those bottlenecks while keeping goods moving.
