Manila: The nation’s senators are joining the throng of people protesting congestion at Philippine ports.

Senator Paolo Aquino who chairs the senate committee of trade and commerce and entrepreneurship has filed Senate Resolution 809 seeking a probe on the worsening cargo congestion at the Port of Manila.

"We will prolong the agony of the public if we will not help government agencies find ways to address the gridlock in the ports that led to untimely delays in shipment of goods," said Aquino.

"Because of this, the country's exports have become highly uncompetitive," added the senator.

Senator Francis Escudero, meanwhile, has filed Senate Resolution 808 urging the senate to look into worsening congestion in the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Port of Manila in order to prevent a potential economic crisis.

"This is already a nagging issue that if left unabated would hurt the gains of the country’s economy. It will hurt us bad since there is already that glaring truth triggering an economic crisis," Escudero said.

The senator said that shippers from Cebu are also complaining about the same problem of port congestion in the Cebu International Port (CIP).  [07/08/14]