The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) launched Program NEHEMIA for the Logistics Sector, making it the third sector launched among the five identified sectors under the program.
ARTA’s Program for National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-Related Agencies (NEHEMIA) is a sectoral-based streamlining effort aimed to reduce time, costs, requirements, and procedures in the government sector. One of the five identified sectors is the logistics sector, along with the common towers and interconnectivity sector, the housing sector, the food pharmaceutical sector, and the energy sector.
One initiative under this program is the replacement of multiple stickers on trucks/cargoes with a unified logistics pass in the form of QR code that will be issued by LTFRB. ARTA’s Deputy Director General and EDC-NCTL’s Co-Chair Atty. Ernesto Perez elaborated, “The cargo that will be issued of this pass will be recognized by the ports, and also by other government agencies and LGUs, allowing it unimpeded from its point of origin to its point of destination”. Moreover, he added that they “will make sure that there will be no duplication of requirements.”, and there will be a substantial reduction in the steps of the procedure to 73%, and the number of days processing from 271 days to 35 days (87% reduction) for land transport only.
This system is also said to be integrated with the Central Business Portal and BOC’s E-TRACC System.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade expresses the Department’s full support and commitment to the project, reiterating that its objectives are aligned with their goals to remove red tape and reduce processing time.
Other than Sec. Tugade, DTI Secretary Lopez, DILG Undersecretary Densing, and Cabinet Secretary Nograles also graced the event and expressed support through their speeches. As CabSec Nograles stated, “The development of issuance of a unified logistics pass will allow free and faster movement of goods from point to point. On the other end, we hope to achieve the target of a 52% decrease in steps, requirements, cost, and time for government services in the logistics sector and eliminate the silo system and the lack of interconnection among agencies. This is aligned under the Philippine Development Plan, ensuring people-centered, clean, and efficient governance, specifically on achieving interoperability of government processes of becoming one connected government.”
“The train of red-tape is indeed on the move; inside it are the hopes and aspirations of the Filipino people for a more streamlined, and e-governance centered government.”, said ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica.
This initiative “will not just lessen the cost of transport, this will also give more employment opportunities to help our MSMEs. It is also seen to lessen the price of commodities, benefiting not only the country but the people whom we owe our loyalty and service as public servants.”, added Deputy Director General Perez. KJDA
The ASEAN Wide Self Certification Scheme (AWSC) allows exporters, who have proven their competence, to be eligible for the preferential treatment under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) through self-certification. As such, application of the Certificate of Origin (CO) Form D is no longer required once an exporter qualified the Certified Exporters (CE) status. However, e-Form D and paper-based Form D will still be used by the exporters who have not acquired the CE status. This will bring practical benefits, reducing cost and shipment delays, in processing export cargoes even during non-work hours and weekends.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and National Resources defers the implementation of the General Effluent Standards (GES) under DAO- 2016-08. Said standards applies to all point sources of pollution, regardless of volume, that discharge to receiving body of water or land and shall be used regardless of the industry category.
The export industry remains resilient and optimistic to face the global health and economic crisis brought by the covid19 pandemic.
On the other hand, the government takes into account the challenges faced by the businesses; initiating programs to help address such concerns. Issues and concerns of exporters nationwide as well as updates on the regional Programs, Actions Plans and Policies (PAPs) are gathered from the recently concluded PEDP 2018-2022 Virtual Regional Consultations held this August 12, 19 and 26, 2020 for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The topmost concern raised is financial assistance specifically for medium-sized enterprises, with the approval of Bayanihan Act, the government thru the Department of Trade and Industry’s non-bank, lending arm – the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) contributed to ease out the burden of these companies in need. They rolled out the SBCares program to help those micro and small business enterprises that have closed their businesses during the pandemic.
The online filing, processing, and payment of port charges and other related fees is now made mandatory through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC). With the JMC, it is now mandatory for all port users to file their applications online for permits and clearances for the release of cargoes from PPA, BOC, and other port operators including International Container Terminals Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI), and Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc. (HCPTI); and payment of corresponding fees shall be done through the accredited banks and payment channels.
The EDC Networking Committee on Financing came up with a Financing Directory aimed to assist the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have the option to choose the right financing program suited for their needs. The said directory is a compilation of different loan programs describing their eligibility criteria, requirements and other loan mechanics and processes from commercial banks, government financing institutions, other financing alternatives, venture capital (for start-up businesses), etc. Please note that the directory is based on currently available information and maybe subject to change by the concerned financing institutions/entities.
Access to finance has been a perennial problem of the country’s MSMEs. Many financing programs were developed by government financing institutions to assist them in growing their businesses, ship their products, develop new products, attend trade shows, etc. The latest of these many programs is SB Corporations’ (SBCorp) COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CAREs) program to micro and small enterprises for them to recover from losses that their businesses incurred during the pandemic. All loans from the CAREs program are interest-free and payment starts after six (6) months upon release of the loan and is payable within 18 to 30 months.
The Corona Virus pandemic never ceases to amaze us- aside from disrupting the economies of the world and changing people’s lives forever, it also made significant positive impact to some aspects of society including the skills we need, how businesses operate as well as the future of work.