ICTSI Manila rolls out electronic container booking system

MANILA - 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. 

TABS is an electronic platform designed to optimise the entry and exit of containerised cargo to and from the two international ports of Manila. It was developed in response to restrictive road policies introduced to combat the congestion of Manila ports in 2014 as a result of the truck ban imposed by the Manila City Government.

“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.   

TABS schedules time slots for container pickups 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, says ICTSI.

TABS is set for is official launch in October 2015. It is a collaborative effort between the Manila City Government and Australia’s 1-Stop Connections Pty. Ltd. www.ictsi.org (ATI).