The country’s largest port users’ group has backed the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) proposal to regulate domestic charges imposed by foreign shipping lines, lending industry support to a long-running push to curb logistics costs that weigh on Philippine trade.
The United Portusers Confederation of the Philippines (UPC) said the proposed framework could help rationalize shipping fees and eliminate redundant charges that have long increased the cost of doing business.
UPC President Ma. Flordeliza Leong, however, maintained that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) should ultimately serve as the implementing agency once the proposed International Maritime Trade Act is enacted, giving the shipping regulator primary oversight of the sector.
The group also signaled its readiness to participate in public consultations on the proposed joint administrative order, describing the initiative as a significant step toward making shipping charges more transparent, predictable, and fair for importers and exporters.
The backing comes as the BOC rolls out operational reforms aimed at easing congestion in the country’s busiest ports while broader regulatory changes are being crafted.
Following consultations with port users and other stakeholders, the bureau introduced three immediate measures to reduce yard utilization at the Manila International Container Port and the Port of Manila. These include transferring overstaying laden containers to accredited off-dock facilities, accelerating customs assessment and cargo processing to shorten release times, and deploying sweeper vessels to remove empty containers for re-export.
The initiatives are designed to free up valuable yard space, improve terminal efficiency, and keep cargo flowing more smoothly through the country’s principal trade gateways.
Leong also disclosed that the BOC is finalizing plans to establish a satellite office at the NAIA Duty Free complex to help decongest air cargo warehouses and speed up cargo processing.
Taken together, the regulatory proposals and operational improvements reflect a broader effort to tackle one of the country’s longstanding trade bottlenecks.
By combining tighter oversight of shipping charges with faster cargo movement, policymakers hope to lower logistics costs, strengthen supply chain efficiency, and enhance the Philippines’ competitiveness as a trading hub.
