Congestion has been a long-time problem in Manila’s ports.
In a bid to decongest it’s Manila ports, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has announced the immediate pull out of over 7,000 containers that have been paid as of June 30, including 78 that have been in the yard for more than 30 days.
According to Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, the Port of Manila (PoM) had issued a notice for consignees to immediately claim 6,931 containers while the Manila International Container Port (MICP) issued likewise a notice to pull out 78 containers, including some that have been in the yard for more than a year already.
The BoC warned that failure to claim imported goods within 30 calendar days from payment of the assessed duties, taxes, fees, interests and other charges would result in the shipment being deemed abandoned, unless covered by a duly issued alert order.
Of the total, 27 consignees have more than 50 containers. Some of the companies with the biggest number of containers include the House Technology Industries Pte. Ltd. with 117 containers, 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 issued by the MICP, it identified 78 containers that have been more than 30 days in the yard, with the oldest arriving as far back as 2025. The containers arrived on various dates starting from June 8, 2025 to May 1, 2026, and with on-line release system (OLRS) dates starting from June 10, 2025 to May 30, 2026.
Nepomuceno disclosed that under Customs Administrative Order No. 17-2019, failure to claim imported goods within 30 calendar days from payment of the assessed duties, taxes, fees, interests and other charges would result in the shipment being confiscated in favor of the government.
Unclaimed imported goods are those still inside the port premises or warehouse 30 calendar days after clearance by the BOC through its OLRS or similar system.
Aside from the recent notices, the PoM and MICP, like other BOC collection districts, regularly post notices to claim as well as reminders to lodge goods declaration for shipments that have been discharged but a corresponding goods declaration has not yet been lodged.
The latest notices though, come as the BoC issued a June 19 dated memorandum to the PoM and MICP ordering the immediate adoption of three measures: the transfer of overstaying laden containers, expedited assessment and processing of shipments and 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 explained.
“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 further stated.
The measures are the latest interventions of the BoC to address high yard congestion at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), which is under the MICP, and Manila South Harbor, under the PoM.