Traders and truckers have raised serious concerns over the critical reefer yard utilization at the Port of Manila, noting that port congestion has persisted for the past 11 years.
Both the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI) and the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) said port congestion has been ongoing since 2014, but has worsened this year.
Victor Lim, FFCCCI president, warned that if the congestion remains unresolved, it would significantly slow down business operations and increase the cost of goods. Lim made the statement during the Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade Winds & Tailwinds: A 2026 Economic Outlook for the Philippine Supply Chain and Logistics Ecosystem on February 5, 2026.
“This port congestion will slowdown business and increase our cost because every delay means higher cost,” Lim said.
Lim added that FFCCCI has been meeting with concerned government agencies, including Finance Secretary Frederick Go, to address the issue.
Together with CTAP, the group pointed to shipping lines as a major contributor to the reefer yard congestion.
Mary Zapanta, president of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), said that before the congestion worsened, truckers were able to complete daily turnaround trips. At present, she said, truckers are fortunate to make a maximum of three trips a week.
Zapanta noted that port congestion typically eases only from March to June each year.
She explained that laden containers cannot be pulled out immediately because truckers are unable to return empty containers. “The main problem is there is no space to return the empty containers,” Zapanta said, urging all port stakeholders to cooperate and help address the situation.
On December 15, 2025, the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) informed shipping lines of a temporary zero reefer acceptance policy, citing critically high reefer yard utilization due to vessel delays, a surge in discharge volumes, and pull-out levels that have not kept pace with incoming cargo.
“To stabilize yard conditions, MICT will enforce zero reefer acceptance for vessels with an estimated berthing schedule from December 24 to January 10, 2026. The approved allocation this week must be strictly followed. This temporary measure is necessary to allow the terminal to manage existing inventory,” the letter stated.
