The Coalition of Customs Brokers Association, Port Truckers, Stakeholders Kontra TABS ended on March 16 a three-day protest against the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS).
The coalition, which includes the Aduana Business Club, Inc., Philippine Society of Filipino Customs Brokers, Inc., Customs Brokers Council of the Philippines, and Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines, Inc., was asking for either of two things: to abolish TABS or to scrap the system’s fees and penalties, which it claims are illegal and will inflate costs for stakeholders.
During the protest action, the group requested its member customs brokers and truckers to refrain from lodging entries and making a TABS appointment, as well as to stop deliveries during the protest dates.
Rallies were staged in front of the Bureau of Customs building in Gate 3, Port Area, Manila. Last March 14, about 50 participants took to the streets, half the approximately 100 who first rallied on March 7. By the third and last day of this week’s rally, only a handful were seen on the protest grounds.
TABS is a government-approved electronic platform for booking containers at Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal that has been specifically developed to minimize road traffic and prevent container build-ups.
The system began to be strictly implemented on March 16, with the points payment feature (covering booking fees only) and exemption from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority truck ban taking effect on that day.
Implementation of penalties, however, had been moved to April 1, following consultation of port operators with several groups and major logistics providers.
The coalition claims TABS has no guidelines for implementation, restrains the flow of trade, and curtails trucking and business opportunities. Moreover, it said the system is only a “money-making scheme” to fund the current administration’s political bets for the election.
The group said TABS’ fees and penalties are a violation of Section 20 of Presidential Decree No. 857 (creation of the Philippine Ports Authority), which requires that cargo-handling charges and other port fees be approved first by the PPA Board.
Port operators claimed the first protest action on March 7 had no effect on their operations.
Former Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, in a recent meeting with officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., had earlier countered protesters’ claims that the system hampers trade flow, pointing out that with the truck ban exemption given to TABS users, the system will actually increase the window of time for trucks to ply the roads, thus raising capacity.
He noted that just-in-time shippers, as well as locators of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, have indicated approval of the system.
Almendras, who was recently appointed as interim foreign affairs secretary, also said fees and penalties are meant to induce compliance with and avoid abuse of the system. – Text and photo by Roumina Pablo
