MANILA, Philippines — A collective of trucking operators and consumer advocacy groups has voiced strong opposition to a proposed port holiday in Manila, warning that a work stoppage would hamper the supply of vital supplies and hit consumers hard.
The Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), alongside consumer groups CitizenWatch and Konsyumer At Mamamayan (KM), are instead pressing state authorities for swift intervention to resolve ongoing port congestion and related logistics bottlenecks.
CitizenWatch co-convenor and former Quezon City 6th District Representative Kit Belmonte acknowledged that severe congestion at ports and container yards, excessive queues, and delays in returning empty containers are real problems that demand urgent resolution from both government and industry stakeholders.
“A ‘port holiday’ could create another burden for ordinary Filipinos who are already having a hard time. It will only disrupt the movement of food, medicine, fuel, and other essential goods,” Belmonte said.
The call comes amid growing divisions within the logistics sector over the proposed week-long “Rest Day on the Ports.” Originally planned for September 28, the demonstration was pushed back to October 5 to give importers, exporters, and traders time to adjust their shipping schedules.
Protest organizers cited severe delays in returning empty containers as a principal driver of port gridlock and mounting financial losses, noting that container turnaround times have lengthened from two weeks to as long as a full month. The protest aims to draw attention to skyrocketing fees, severe congestion, and broader operational hurdles in the logistics industry.
KM convenor Louie Montemar stressed that port activities should not come to a halt while discussions take place among truckers, shipping lines, depot operators, and government regulators.
“Operations must continue while the government, shipping lines, port operators, container depots, and truckers hold immediate discussions. This must yield concrete reforms, clear accountability, and definite deadlines,” Montemar said.
Meanwhile, ACTOO Vice President and Acting Chairperson Rina Papa stated that her organization chooses to engage with government bodies and partner sectors to secure practical answers rather than initiate a strike.
She added that declining to participate in the protest does not signal weakness, noting ACTOO’s proven ability to mobilize its members when required.
“We want clear, concrete, and grounded solutions to the problems faced by truckers and the entire logistics sector. We see no value in grandstanding or simply making noise without clear demands, direction, and a strategy for achieving results,” Papa said.