Ang Kalatas Volume IV September 2014 Issue | Page 3

THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 4 Number 12 | September 2014

NEWS

03

PORT CONGESTION HITS MANILA

HERE’S why delivery of your ‘padala’ may have been delayed
A PORT congestion in Manila has been affecting cargo delivery schedules and both officials
and top business leaders are now
calling on the Philippine government to improve port operations.
International trading and delivery through the Manila route
are already affecting traders and
Pinoys around the world sending
valuable cargo to their loved ones
in the Philippines.
Last month, Senator Bam
Aquino had sought a senate investigation on what he called a
“worsening cargo congestion” at
the Port of Manila especially after Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada
enforced a partial city truck ban
last year apparently to ease traffic congestion.
"We will prolong the agony of
the public if we will not help government agencies find ways to ad-

By: Marilie Bomediano

PRIME

Minister
Tony Abbott called on
immigrants and foreignborn Australians to
embrace Australian values
and join the common
goal to secure the country
from terrorism during his
address at a multicultural

dress the gridlock in the ports that
led to untimely delays in shipment of goods,” Senator Aquino was quoted as saying in Philippine media reports.
In Australia, some FilipinoAustralians recently raised issue
with cargo forwarding companies
for delays in the delivery of their
boxes to points in the Philippines
not knowing that cargo traffic in
Manila appears to be causing the
problem.
An executive from Forex
World, one of biggest cargo operators servicing Fil-Aussies in
Australia, said they had encountered some delays recently and
had informed their customers
about the situation.
“At this stage two of our shipments have encountered some
delays due to this matter and we
have been able to notify most of

communities’
media
conference last
month at the Strathfield
Town Hall.

our customers affected. Vessels
have been forced to wait out at sea
until docks in Manila are cleared,”
said Enrique Campos Jr. of Forex
World Cargo.
“The Government seems to be
starting to do something to help
ease the problem which we will
closely monitor. As movements
normalise we will do everything
to ensure deliveries of the affected cargo are expedited,” he said.
“We know that our customers
understand issues like this are out
of our control and that all cargo
companies are affected.”
Aquino filed Senate Resolution no. 809 saying that the port
congestion has negatively affected the operations of importers
and exporters. He called on port
authorities to consider the Ports
of Batangas and Subic Bay as alternative cargo drop-off points.

BOX FOR HOME. A Pinay prepares a box of goodies she would send to loved ones in Metro Manila. Congestion in Manila
has been delaying cargo delivery over the past few months. AK FILE PHOTO

will be prosecuted,
and if you are successfully prosecuted there will be a substantial jail
term.”
The Government says about
160 Australians are currently
fighting with, or assisting, terrorist groups in the Middle East,
“in one way or another.”
“It is in the absolute interest of

ABBOTT BATS FOR ‘TEAM AUSTRALIA’

“Coming to Australia means
that you are joining our team
and I reckon it's the best team on
earth,” Abbot told about 50 representatives from multicultural
media organisations.

The Prime Minister reiterated
the importance of protecting the
country against terrorism and the
legalities and extent of a migrant’s
participation in the political affairs of his or her home country.
“If you leave Australia to join
the Pakistani army because you

happen to be a dual citizen that's
certainly not illegal,” he said.
“But if you leave our country as an Australian citizen, as an
Australian resident, to work with
a terrorist group overseas, that is
illegal. And if you come back to
Australia you will be arrested, you

every single community in this
country to expose and counter
any potential for homegrown terrorism,” the Prime Minister said.
Last month, the Commonwealth government announced
a $630 million boost to security agencies and new legislation
targeting Australians who travel overseas to work or fight with
terrorist organisations.