THE Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (BOC) is expecting a disruption in the country’s supply chain with the impending pullout of Solid Shipping Lines (SSL) from the livestock trade starting May.
In an interview, PSB deputy director Clem Paylanco said if other carriers do not take up the slack this could result in a 15-20% delay in the movement of livestock, particularly in the General Santos-Manila route operated by SSL.
Only SSL offers direct services to Mindanao for the livestock trade. It handles about 70% of the country’s livestock shipments equivalent to the carriage of 80 hog vans per month.
Paylanco told PortCalls PSB is asking other shipping lines to accommodate the traffic and adopt alternative shipping strategies to avoid a supply chain disruption.
One measure being eyed is shipping processed meat through reefer vans, said Paylanco.
He explained this not only ensures enough meat supply in Metro Manila but also prevents pollution in North Harbor, which is ill equipped to handle cattle waste.
SSL’s inability to deal with cattle waste has been cited as one of the reasons for its decision to soon stop offering livestock services.
“Hopefully, 2GO, Lorenzo, Oceanic and Sulpicio will be able to accommodate the traffic from SSL and are willing to alter their schedules to accommodate the traffic,” Paylanco said.
In January, SSL had already stopped its livestock services partly to prevent pollution scrutiny from the Bureau of Quarantine.
But at the start of this month, the company agreed to reopen the service but only until end April to accommodate the Department of Agriculture request to give shippers time to look for alternatives.
