The international gateway ports operated by Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) will remain operational during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period to be imposed by government in the national capital region and adjacent provinces beginning Friday, August 6.
In a statement, ATI said it will sustain normal operations at Manila South Harbor (MSH) and Batangas Container Terminal (BCT), following stringent industrial health and safety protocols prescribed by local and international Covid-19 experts, to keep the supply-chain moving.
“As a trade enabler, our ports will remain business as usual during this heightened quarantine classification in the NCR Plus to ensure the unhampered flow of food, medical supplies, consumer goods and other vital necessities in support of the economy,” ATI executive vice president William Khoury said.
He added that port transactions such as settling port fees, container bookings and other inquiries are done online through ATI’s e-Portal facilities for faster and safer contactless interactions.
“Port authorities in Manila and Batangas are also on ready status to process cargoes, so we encourage customers to facilitate their shipments to avoid any inconveniences or unnecessary volume buildups,” Khourysaid.
“We enjoin other segments of the supply-chain to do the same, following the guidelines set forth by authorities, to ensure seamless and uninterrupted trade cycles,” he added.
Trade officials, including law enforcement agencies and transport authorities, have earlier reiterated the unhampered transit of cargo trucks, including the movement of frontline essential workers such as ports and logistics employees, during the ECQ in recognition of the industry’s crucial role in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from Manila and Batangas ports, ATI operates four strategic Inland Logistics Terminals (ITLs) in Manila and Laguna with a combined static capacity of nearly 12,000 teus (twenty-foot equivalent units) which have been instrumental in maintaining optimal yard utilization rates in MSH and BCT at below 60 percent.
