The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in the Port of Manila has started implementing a vehicle appointment system called Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) for selected user groups.
Largely seen as a proactive alternative to counterproductive truck bans, TABS is an electronic platform for booking containers in the two international ports of Manila. Designed to optimize the entry and exit of containerized cargo to and from MICT, TABS was developed in response to restrictive road policies that were introduced to combat the congestion of Manila ports in 2014 as a result of the truck ban imposed by the Manila City Government.
“The implementation of TABS is a move in the right direction. It is the port sector’s contribution to easing road congestion in the Philippine capital by implementing a system that will schedule movements of trucks in and out of the Port,” says Mohamed Ghandar, MICT General Manager.
He continues: “With a booming economy and the ongoing major infrastructure projects in the metropolis comes the issue of road capacity. Movement of trade in the Port of Manila, specifically that of container-handling trucks, has to co-exist with the movement of the commuting public.”
TABS will address the current unpredictable surge of trucks that ply the roads by scheduling the time slots for container pickup and drop-offs. Truckers can increase their trips per day, cargo owners can move their goods more promptly, and terminals can allocate resources more efficiently due to the predictable volume and schedule.
With the system in place, the Manila port community should expect more organized truck movement and experience a managed and consistent flow of trucks spread across the entire day.
TABS is scheduled for officially launch in October 2015. The soft launch comes ahead of the expected surge in economic productivity in Manila in September as shipments increase in preparation for the holiday season.
The system was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the supply chain stakeholders, the Manila City Government and Australia’s 1-Stop Connections Pty. Ltd.
