Palace to traders: Move cargo from Manila ports before papal visit

The government on Tuesday appealed to the private sector to pull out as much cargo as possible from the Port of Manila before Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines next week.

 

At a press briefing, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras said the papal visit, as well as the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Friday, is expected to disrupt the flow of goods from the Manila Port.

 

“We have the Feast of Poong Nazareno where we know na hindi na naman po makakagalaw ‘yung mga trucks or anyone into the area, especially ‘pag simula na po ‘yung procession,” Almendras, who was tasked to coordinate port congestion efforts, told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

 

“Then,next week, we have a very important visitor and we expect that as early as Friday there will again be a disruption on the flow of traffic and goods,” he added.

 

Due to these events, Almendras asked importers and cargo handlers to remove shipments from the Manila Port in the next three days and during the coming weekend.

 

“We are appealing to the private sector, we are appealing to the importers, to all the cargo handlers: Can you please pull out as much of your cargos now while we are able to? What do we mean by now? That’s today, tomorrow, and Thursday,” the Cabinet official said.

 

“Bakit po? Sa Friday wala naman. And then, sa Sabado po, everything will be normal. All the operations will be normal in the ports,” he added.

 

Thousands of Filipinos are expected to troop to Metro Manila to participate in Pope Francis’ activities in the Philippines starting Friday next week. A three-day holiday has been declared in the National Capital Region due to the papal visit. 
 

Up to P70 billion in economic losses has been incurred by the government due to the port congestion over the past months, according to National Economic and Development Authority. —NB, GMA News