A total of 1,853 empty containers have overstayed beyond the 90-day dwell-time limit at the Port of Manila, the Manila International Container Port (MICP), and Cagayan de Oro, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
In an interview on the sidelines of the forum, “Unlocking Growth in ASEAN: Strategic Insights in Cross-border Transactions,” hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the BOC will strictly enforce the 90-day rule. Under the policy, containers that remain beyond the prescribed period will be treated as imports.
“Therefore, Customs can already charge them for duties and taxes. And if they don’t pay, we can seize them and auction them,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
The Commissioner, however, said he is open to considering a proposal to reduce the dwell-time limit to 60 days, subject to consultations with stakeholders.
In the meantime, he vowed to fully implement the existing 90-day rule. He noted the need for a system that can accurately track the location and status of overstaying containers.
According to Nepomuceno, the BOC currently relies largely on reports submitted by shipping lines, although he expressed concerns about the reliability of some of the information being provided.
“The shipping lines don’t tell the truth. Well, maybe yes, maybe no, but we don’t have real-time data to make sure, to identify where they are, how long have they overstayed. So you need information. So, for me, the 90-day rule can be good enough,” he said.
Still, the Commissioner said he remains open to shortening the dwell-time limit to 60 days after consultations with stakeholders.
“I’m open to do that, but I’m not convinced that we are already able to fully implement the 90-day rule. That’s what I’m asking for, because it’s not yet fully implemented. I’m not yet satisfied,” he said.
“I’m now looking deeply into this,” he added, noting that he issued a memorandum last month directing the full implementation of the 90-day dwell-time rule.
Port stakeholders have been complaining of overcrowding at the Manila ports, making logistics cost more expensive.
