Port congestion due to typhoon causes massive traffic build up near Manila Harbor

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, issued a statement today to all motorists to avoid Roxas Boulevard and Port Area (R10) due to the traffic standstill caused by heavy haulers or trucks trying to enter and exit Manila Harbor.

“Ipinakikiusap po namin sa mga motorista na huwag na munang tangkain na dumaan sa Roxas Blvd, R10 at iba pang mga pangunahing kalsada patungo sa Pier sa araw na ito. (We appeal to motorists to avoid Roxas Boulevard, R10 and the other primary roads going to [Manila] Port today)” said Mayor Isko through the Manila Public Information Office or MPIO.

Truckmageddon: stay away from Roxas BLVD, Port area says Isko image

The build-up leading to the enormous traffic standstill was due to the bad weather, says the Philippine Ports Authority. Because of that, shipments take longer than usual to process and the trucks already inside the ports are unable to go out to their respective destinations, which also resulted to trucks trying to come inside the ports being stranded along R10 since yesterday.

Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) on South Harbor terminal operations, has also issued a statement about the situation: "Due to typhoon Hanna which has enhanced the southwest monsoon characterized by strong winds and heavy downpour, Manila South Harbor has experienced intermittent operational disruption since late last night, including the entry of trucks into the terminal. “

ATI also added that “This is a necessary safety precaution, especially during inclement weather. At any given time, the lives and safety of our stakeholders is the topmost priority."

For now, even motorcycles are having a hard time filtering through the heavy traffic and everyone is advised to take alternative routes until the situation normalizes.