Long-term solution required

The truck ban imposed by the city government of Manila and the resulting port congestion arising from the mounting unclaimed and undelivered cargoes to consignees are twin problems to which the national government seems to have found no effective and lasting solution.

In a news item last Sept. 9, the Inquirer quoted the visibly concerned Makati Business Club as saying that these problems are among the “new barriers to trade that could drag down the Philippines’ overall score,” referring to the country’s global competitiveness which is currently at the top 36 percent of world rankings.

Indeed, unless the problems are effectively resolved, the MBC prognosis is most likely to happen. But what must be happening already are the mounting costs and losses to the importers, foregone revenues to the truckers and foregone income to their drivers and other employees, as well as foregone revenues to wholesalers and retailers dependent upon imports. At the end of the line are the end-consumers adversely affected in terms of rising prices, especially of food  products, arising from supply shortfalls.

Meanwhile, reopening the Manila lanes to truckers is causing insufferable traffic congestion all over again.

How about considering the idea of the Philippine National Railways setting up a railroad terminal at the Manila port where shipments are unloaded? The railroad line can extend to a feasible point in the north and south where truckers can pick up cargoes for delivery to consignees.

The late Aaron Redubla, longtime Customs chief of staff who later became senior deputy commissioner, toyed with this idea but didn’t live long enough at the latter post to develop it to fruition. Perhaps the national government can pick up on the idea. Who knows but that a railroad system may be the long-term solution, while providing the cash-strapped PNR with stable revenues.

—REYNALDO B. ALMENARIO,

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