The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has raised alarm over inefficiencies in the country’s transport and logistics systems, particularly the underutilization of ports outside Metro Manila, which it said continue to drive up business costs and stifle competitiveness.
PCCI President Enunina Mangio said on Wednesday that Manila’s ports remain congested while highly capable alternatives such as Batangas and Subic are operating far below potential.
“This imbalance is a stark example of inefficiency. Transportation costs in the Philippines rank among the highest in ASEAN and even across Asia. Poor infrastructure design and regulatory conflicts add unnecessary burdens to businesses and raise the cost of goods,” she told the 2nd PCCI general membership meeting at Dusit Thani Manila.
Mangio also cited conflicts of interest in the country’s transport agencies, saying the Civil Aviation Authority and maritime regulators act both as regulators and commercial players in the very markets they oversee.
These structural flaws, she said, inflate operational costs and hamper efficiency in both aviation and maritime sectors.
The PCCI president added that road bottlenecks further worsen connectivity, disrupting the movement of goods and people across the country and threatening food security by undermining agricultural supply chains.
Despite years of engagement between the private sector, government, and stakeholders through the PCCI Transport and Logistics Committee, Mangio said the Philippines continues to lag behind its regional peers.
She stressed the need for targeted reforms and a regulatory environment that promotes competition and efficiency. “We face a defining strategic choice. We can either accept our current infrastructure limitations as permanent constraints on Philippine competitiveness or unlock our unique geographic advantage as a hub at the heart of Asia’s dynamic trade routes,” she added.
