Consumer groups warned Tuesday that the week-long “port holiday” could deepen supply disruptions and add pressure on prices of basic goods, as truckers protest congestion, high fees and mounting losses.
CitizenWatch and Konsyumer At Mamamayan (KM) said the concerns behind the stoppage are legitimate but urged truckers and industry players to keep cargo moving while pursuing reforms.
“A ‘port holiday’ could create another burden for ordinary Filipinos who are already having a hard time,” CitizenWatch co-convenor Christopher Belmonte said, warning that disruptions could affect the movement of food, medicine, fuel and other essential goods.
The warning came after the planned “Rest Day on the Ports” began Oct. 5, with organizers citing persistent congestion and delays in returning empty containers. They said some truckers have waited two weeks to a month to return containers, driving up costs and contributing to financial losses.
But the industry remains split over the action.
The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations, which represents about 60% of port-based truckers, said it would not participate and would instead seek talks with government and industry stakeholders.
KM convenor Louie Montemar said port operations should continue as government, shipping lines, port operators, container depots and truckers work on reforms.
“Ayusin ang sistema nang hindi pinatitigil ang daloy ng mga produkto,” Montemar said, urging stakeholders to fix the system without making consumers pay for inefficiencies and poor coordination.
Belmonte similarly called for concrete measures, deadlines and accountability, saying the response to the port crisis should focus on action rather than stopping cargo flows.
The dispute now puts pressure on authorities and industry players to resolve long-standing logistics bottlenecks without triggering wider disruptions in the supply of essential goods.
