Rizal Philippines | August 28, 2014
Repost from Remate - Truck Bank in Manila continues
Right after the Senate hearing to solve port congestion, a local chief executive shows his adamance not to cooperate and not to think through the priorities and the problem at hand. That he used to be a top honcho of the country but was impeached, simply shows that his removal from the office before shows his lack of capacity to govern the nation. He could not understand that let the Ports be decongested for 3 months and then let the truck ban continue.
Port Congestion adds to costs of goods, harms the consumer and the country in general. It affects the country's trade and backlogs pile up of imports pile up in foreign ports. Agri products rot in the pier, hence we saw the rise in cost of onions by as much as 3x. Trucking has also risen by that much....
Manila is shooting itself in the foot. It drives away importers and businessmen away from Manila. The Calabarzon area with its lower business taxes, superior roads and Port Batangas, more efficient customs, would make many businessmen locate at Calabarzon area.
I have seen some importers relocated at Subic simply because they found the local taxes at 2% of sales simply too much. It is 0 at Subic. They have easy access to the Port of Subic and Clark International Airport. Local officials need not be myopic or parochial. We are living in a global community and competition.
As I see it, the concerned mayor simply wants to do a power play and that he is in charge, no matter what. That he can not be cowed by truckers holiday. Period
We also need the current President to show backbone and leadership to do away with parochialism in the meantime to solve the over all more pressing problem. He must be able to put the ducks in line...
