Customs brokers have identified problems using the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS), including difficulty in booking appointments and slow and unreliable Internet connection.
At the Oct 12 forum organized by the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI), chamber members were surveyed on their experience using TABS, which went live on October 1. The results of the forum will be submitted to Manila terminal operators next week to help further improve the system, according to CCBI president Dr. Dennis Del Pilar.
An electronic platform for booking containers at Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal, TABS was developed to minimize road traffic and ensure a more organized flow of containerized cargoes while providing real-time information on container status.
Based on preliminary survey results, it was revealed that customs brokers want the ability to view the number of slots available during a certain period or zone to determine the number of shipments that may be booked during such a period.
Customs brokers also complained about not being able to reach port operators using the contact number provided on the TABS website. One broker claimed that after dialing the number, she ended up with the port’s customer service which could not assist her due to lack of knowledge on the matter.
Some brokers feared the new system will favor big companies or those with many containers over firms with just one or two shipments. Customs brokers said those with many containers would eat up slots in a certain zone with just one booking, leaving no space for those coming after.
Another concern raised is the lack of a document that will serve to exempt trucks with TABS appointments from the Metro Manila truck ban, which was a commitment given by Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras who headed the Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion (CCPC). CCPC had approved the adoption of TABS to help decongest ports and prevent another massive congestion.
Until a document formalizing the truck ban exemption for TABS users is released, port operators have suggested that trucks refrain from plying roads during the banned hours.
Despite suggestions to suspend TABS to give customs brokers more time to become familiar with the new system, Del Pilar noted CCBI is supportive of the measure. He said although they expected birth pains during the system’s initial run, he acknowledged some customs brokers are not well-versed in computers, and that some did not heed calls to attend seminars and ended up being taken by surprise when TABS was finally rolled out.
Del Pilar said they plan to request for more seminars and fora on TABS to help customs brokers get used to the system. – Roumina Pablo
