By Tracy Cabrera
PORT AREA, Manila — In a bid to decongest Manila’s ports, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has announced the immediate pullout of more than 7,000 containers that had already been paid for as of June 30, including 78 containers that have remained in port yards for more than 30 days.
According to Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, the Port of Manila (PoM) issued notices directing consignees to immediately claim 6,931 containers, while the Manila International Container Port (MICP) also ordered the pullout of 78 containers, some of which have been sitting in the yard for more than a year.
The BOC warned that failure to claim imported goods within 30 calendar days from the payment of assessed duties, taxes, fees, interest, and other charges would result in the shipment being deemed abandoned, unless covered by a duly issued alert order.
Of the total, 27 consignees each have more than 50 containers awaiting withdrawal. Among those with the highest number of containers are House Technology Industries Pte. Ltd. (117), Union Galvasteel Corp. (116), Primeeight Consumer Goods Trading (102), Altas Industrial Companias Amicales Ent., Inc. (100), Arnn Rose Furniture Trading (92), Brighter Hardware and Construction (92), and Chain Glass Enterprises Inc. (92).
In a separate notice, the MICP identified 78 containers that have remained in the yard for more than 30 days, with the oldest shipment dating back to 2025. The containers arrived between June 8, 2025 and May 1, 2026, while their Online Release System (OLRS) dates ranged from June 10, 2025 to May 30, 2026.
Nepomuceno said that under Customs Administrative Order No. 17-2019, failure to claim imported goods within 30 calendar days after payment of the required duties, taxes, fees, interest, and other charges would result in the shipment being forfeited in favor of the government.
Unclaimed imported goods refer to shipments that remain inside port premises or warehouses for 30 calendar days after being cleared by the BOC through its OLRS or a similar system.
Aside from the latest notices, the PoM and MICP, along with other BOC collection districts, regularly issue notices to claim shipments and reminders to lodge goods declarations for cargo that has already been discharged but for which no corresponding declaration has yet been filed.
The latest notices come after the BOC issued a memorandum dated June 19 directing the PoM and MICP to immediately implement three measures: the transfer of overstaying laden containers, expedited assessment and processing of shipments, and the deployment of sweeper vessels.
“This is to address high yard utilization and improve cargo movement in Manila international terminals. Delays in the release and withdrawal of laden containers further contribute to congestion and reduce available terminal capacity, resulting in a domino effect on port operations and cargo flow,” the memorandum stated.
“Recognizing that overstaying laden containers occupy valuable terminal space and reduce yard capacity, it is necessary to implement immediate measures to improve port operations, facilitate cargo movement, and maintain optimal yard utilization,” it added.
The measures are the latest interventions by the BOC to ease congestion at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), under the MICP, and Manila South Harbor, which is under the PoM.
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