OVERSEAS cargo is being held up by severe congestion at Manila's main port, where containers have been piling up since February because of a daytime ban on trucks.
This prevented trucks using city roads, causing a backlog of 20,000 containers, which is expected to take months to clear.
The government reversed itself on September 13, ending the ban, though it came too late for many factories that ship to Western markets for holiday sales, reported Reuters.
Electronics manufacturers, garment makers and food producers are facing delays and rising costs due to the backlog at the choked port.
Manila port throughput is 80 per cent foreign trade, and the situation is now holding back growth in southeast Asia's fifth-largest economy.
"I never expected that the situation will turn as bad as this," said Philippine furniture maker Betiscrafts owner Myrna Bituin.
"We are at a loss. We are under a lot of stress. I could not deliver, and if I don't deliver then my clients abroad will also lose business," he said.
The port gridlock was an unintended consequence of a local government plan to improve traffic and reduce pollution in Manila, the truck ban on the city's roads lasted for 16 hours daily from 5am.
PORTS
30 September 2014 - 22:14
Manila's port congestion batters Philippines economy, factories miss sales
OVERSEAS cargo is being held up by severe congestion at Manila's main port, where containers have been piling up since February because of a daytime ban on trucks.
PORTS
30 September 2014 - 22:14
Manila's port congestion batters Philippines economy, factories miss sales
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