Booking system to optimise Manila movements

The Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) at the Port of Manila is largely seen as a proactive alternative to counter-productive truck bans. The electronic platform 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,” said Mohamed Ghandar, general manager, MICT. “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.”

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 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,” Mr Ghandar added.

MICT says with the system in place, the Manila port community should expect more organised 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.