Beyond traffic: Why tech integration is the real port solution

Traffic. It’s the everyday dilemma of people going to work and school.

Ask anyone why the roads are gridlocked and you’ll get a dozen answers. Some blame the endless road construction. Others point to unresolved EDSA issues. Many complain about inner roads blocked by street parking. And, of course, there are those who’ll say it’s the trucks heading to the ports.

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: ordinary citizens are bearing the brunt of it. Hours lost on the road. Deliveries delayed. Missed appointments. No wonder delivery platforms and motorcycle ride-hailing services have become essential — because they offer efficiency in a city where time is often swallowed up by the traffic.

But here’s an important distinction, my dear readers: port operations are not automatically synonymous with congestion.

Recently, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) clarified that Manila’s major seaports — the Manila South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal — remain operational and free-flowing.

Yard utilization stands at 75.30 percent for Manila South Harbor and 83.64 percent for MICT. While these figures exceed the 70-percent “optimum” threshold, they do not automatically indicate congestion. Cargo handling and vessel servicing continue without disruption.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago emphasized that yard utilization levels alone do not equate to an operational breakdown. Issues raised by stakeholders, the Authority noted, are largely related to the handling and return of empty containers, a matter between shipping lines and their designated yards, not an internal port congestion issue.

In a recent discussion with Marcia Costa, National Maritime and Port Strategies analyst of the Port of Angola, a similar story emerged, but with a decisive pivot toward solutions.

Angola too faces congestion pressures, transport insecurity, and supply chain inefficiencies. Their average container dwell time exceeds 14 days. Limited technological integration and lack of traceability expose operations to monitoring gaps and errors. Logistics costs account for roughly 20-percent of the final value of goods.

That burden, as always, falls on the consumer.

But here is where Angola’s direction becomes instructive. Rather than treating congestion as purely a physical infrastructure issue, Angola is approaching it as a systems problem, one that requires digital integration as its backbone.

Their strategy centers on technological transformation:

1. Port Community Systems (PCS) to enable electronic information exchange among port stakeholders, reducing paper trails and shortening container dwell time.

2.Terminal Automation to streamline cargo handling operations and minimize manual inefficiencies.

3.Real-Time Tracking and Document Digitalization to enhance cargo visibility, traceability, and predictability across port and customs systems.

In short, Angola recognizes that modern ports are no longer just physical gateways, they are digital ecosystems.

Historically, ports evolved from manual trading posts and war-time docking points into strategic logistics hubs during the industrial revolution and the age of containerization. Today, in the era of digital transformation, their competitiveness hinges on integration, data visibility and automation.

Technological integration is no longer optional; it is the structuring factor of maritime modernization.

When systems talk to each other, dwell time shortens. When documents move digitally, transactions accelerate. When cargo is traceable in real time, security strengthens. When automation supports operations, congestion becomes manageable.

The result? Lower logistics costs. More predictable supply chains. Greater economic competitiveness.

3. Angola is clearly moving in that direction, positioning technological integration not as an upgrade, but as the strategic solution to maritime inefficiencies.

The Philippines, with its strong maritime positioning and growing trade demands, stands at a similar crossroads.

If traffic teaches us anything, it is that adding more roads is not always the answer. Sometimes the solution lies in smarter systems, not wider lanes.

The future of port modernization is not merely about cranes, yards, or quay length. It is about connectivity, digital connectivity among institutions, operators, and stakeholders.

If Angola is embracing technology as the key to unlocking efficiency and competitiveness, perhaps Philippine ports should view digital transformation not as an enhancement but as an imperative.

After all, port modernization means building smarter ports grounded in digital technology. Today, the future of ports is not just physical; it is decisively digital.