The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pressing the government to quickly issue a Joint Administrative Order aimed at curbing soaring logistics costs and easing port congestion, warning that delays could further squeeze businesses and consumers as cargo volumes rise later this year.
The proposed JAO has completed public consultations and is undergoing final review by concerned agencies. PCCI said its prompt issuance would strengthen the Bureau of Customs’ role in regulating international shipping lines, container yards, and other logistics service providers.
“For decades, Philippine enterprises have grappled with high logistics costs, non-transparent ancillary charges, and recurring port congestion,” PCCI said.
PCCI President Perry Ferrer said businesses and consumers cannot afford another round of delays, urging the Department of Finance, Department of Transportation, Department of Trade and Industry, BOC, and other agencies to finalize and sign the order.
The proposed rules would require covered logistics providers to report applicable charges to the BOC, standardize fee nomenclature, and regulate allowable charges and fee limits. Container deposits would have to be refunded within 15 days, while cargo withholding over unpaid charges from unrelated transactions would be prohibited.
The JAO would also introduce a 75-percent yard utilization threshold as an initial trigger for decongestion measures while authorities work toward establishing a permanent benchmark.
For importers, the stakes are increasingly financial. PCCI Vice President for Industry Bryan Ang said logistics costs for some importers have climbed from about P30,000 to more than P100,000 per container.
Such increases rarely stay at the port. Higher freight, handling, storage, and ancillary charges ultimately feed into the cost of imported goods and, in many cases, consumer prices.
PCCI said faster implementation would make supply chains more predictable and help businesses plan inventory and shipments with greater certainty.
The urgency is heightened by the expected seasonal increase in cargo volumes later this year. Without clearer rules and stronger enforcement, another surge could magnify existing bottlenecks and add to already elevated logistics costs.
For Philippine businesses, the proposed JAO is therefore more than a port-management measure. It is a competitiveness issue, with cheaper and more predictable logistics potentially translating into lower costs, faster movement of goods, and greater room for companies to compete in regional markets.
