The protest rally of the Alliance of Philippine Broker and Trucking Associations is suspended today (November 21) to give way to discussions with government agencies regarding problems with empty container returns and the 15-year-old age limit for trucks-for-hire.
Comprising the Aduana Business Club, Inc., Truckers Association in the Watersouth, Inc., and Inland Haulers and Truckers Association as well as the Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Philippines, the Alliance had initially announced the holding of a six-day “Customs Brokers, Port Truckers Day of Rest”, or from Nov 19 to 24.
While the protest action has been suspended, the Alliance said the trucking holiday–truckers not accepting deliveries to and from Manila ports–is still in effect “pending positive result of the meeting” with government. The group did not identify which agency it was meeting.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine Ports Authority in a press briefing on November 19 said the first day of the trucking holiday did not affect port operations. The rally caused traffic jams in the port area though. On the second day (Nov 20), the protest was even more muted, confined to Anda Circle because much of Roxas Boulevard was closed for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The suspension of the rally comes after DOTr, in a statement on November 20, said its attached agencies will not hesitate to impose sanctions on trucks with franchises and private vehicles proven to have disrupted the free flow of commerce to and from the Port of Manila by preventing and/or threatening operations of trucking companies not supporting the protest.
DOTr and its attached agencies are scheduled to hold a press conference on November 21 regarding the trucking holiday. Expected to attend are DOTr officer-in-charge Undersecretary for Maritime Fernando Juan Perez, DOTr assistant secretary for Special Concerns Manuel Gonzales, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra III, PPA general manager Atty Jay Santiago, and Land Transportation Office executive director Romeo Vera Cruz. – Roumina Pablo
