Manila: The congestion at Manila’s two ports are responsible for around 20,000 workers being temporarily laid off work, or having their hours seriously cut at special economic zones, according to officials at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) who were testifying at the senate yesterday.  

 “I realized that all our concern is on rising prices. Of course, I’m also very concerned about that, but not many realize the disastrous, the devastating effect of this on our economic zone locators,” Peza Director General Lilia de Lima said.

De Lima said shippers were now being forced to move lots of goods by air jacking up prices by five to ten times.  [14/08/14]