The issues and challenges faced by the transport and logistics sector were discussed last 15 April 2020, during the 3rd eForum of #ResilenceAndRecoveryPH with the topic “Local and Global Supply Chains: Quick Assessment and Ways Forward”.

During the forum, the transport and logistics sector with importers, supply chain associations, port users and exporters, have expressed their disdain over the increasing shipping cost including demurrage fees –locally and globally. The burden of paying higher fees and demurrage was passed on to their shoulders at the most inconvenient of times when there are airfreight cancellations, more return shipments, port congestion/container build-up at ports, blank sailings at short notice, and so on- all without their fault, but as an impact of the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

The group sought the help of government and private sectors for solutions to address and ease their current burden. They urged government, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in particular, to refrain from passing the burden of paying higher fees and charges to port users. More importantly, they asked government to consider long-term and short-term solutions in order to improve the flow of goods in the country and make the cost of transport and logistics more competitive, domestically and globally. Following are the recommendations:

Short-term solutions:
1. Implement the Super Green Lane (SGL) for PEZA shipments and transactions;
2. Suspend demurrage charges for shipments stuck at the port and apply this retroactively to all shipments affected;
3. Extend the free storage period from 5 days to 10 days;
4. Lift the truck ban/ number coding;
5. Promulgate guidelines and ensure that all shipping lines have sufficient Container Yard (CY) space for empty containers as well as expedite the accreditation and activation of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) as needed.

Long-term solutions:
1. Creation of a single Customs Revenue District for ports serving the Greater Manila Area or mandate a single port of discharge to vessels
2. improve online processing of permits/customs clearance/payments
3. Full implementation of the National Single Window;
4. Improve internet speed and connectivity
5.Establishment of a Supply Chain and Logistics Council composed of public and private sector.

In response to the groups plea for help, a statement urging the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to address Ports Issues under COVID-19 and Endorsing the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on  establishing guidelines in the application of local charges imposed by international shipping lines, freight forwarders or logistics companies, customs brokers, cargo truck operators, terminal operators and container yard operators to comply with existing laws and instructing the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to improve productivity in the handling of cargoes, was issued.-GTM

The National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) plan gets a GO, pursuant to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 24 dated 15 April 2020 – acquiring the approval to develop a Supply Chain Analytics (SCAn) dashboard, and to conduct a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).

The main objective of the SCAn dashboard is to provide up-to-date, real-time information to the IATF on existing supply chain and logistics issues, and potential solutions to aid them in making relevant and timely actions and decisions. Information in the SCAn dashboard will be generated from different subnational stakeholders through a Networks Hub.

The Networks Hub is consisted of, but not limited to Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT), and Export Development Council’s Networking Committee on Transport and logistics (EDC-NCTL), including other government/regulatory agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

The RIA on the other hand, will be implemented alongside with ARTA. They will tackle COVID 19 related issuances that have implications to the flow of supply chain to ensure those that can be a burden or threat to the efficient flow of goods will be taken out.

In light of the COVID 19 pandemic that our country is facing, it is crucial to ensure the unhampered, unimpeded flow of goods to secure our supply chain, and to keep the economy going. This collaborative undertaking will be beneficial to preserving the unimpaired flow of goods, and up to the largest extent, mitigate the challenges brought by the COVID 19 to the supply chain.

This initiative is made possible in partnership with the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation Inc. – Regulatory Support Program for National Development (UPPAF-RESPOND), under the headship of Dr. Enrico Basilio, RESPOND Chief of Party, and EDC-NCTL Chair. – KJDA

In a recent pronouncement, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez stated that the Departments of Trade and Industry, Transportation and Finance will issue the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) that will regulate local charges imposed by international shipping lines.

The draft JAO was already signed by the Trade Secretary and still need to be co-signed by the Secretaries of Finance and Transportation.

While the JAO is still to be signed, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has already issued orders resulting to normalizing utilization rate of container depots in Manila ports back to 70%.

Specifically, the BOC issued Customs Memorandum Order 13-2019 in February which “disallowed brokers, importers, truckers and other port stakeholders to return empty containers within the premises of Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Manila (POM) beginning February, until further notice”.

On the other hand, the PPA issued a directive stating “all importers, consignees, owners, and shippers of containers already cleared by BOC are notified to withdraw said containers within fifteen (15) days and shall be compelled to transfer these containers to a designated port or inland container depot at their cost”.

Hence, this facilitated the transfer of overstaying containers to Batangas and Subic Ports with the cooperation of the port operators.

International Shipping Lines, for their part, are being required to promptly evacuate empty containers from the Manila ports within the prescribed period given by BOC, either by regular ship calls or sweeper vessels.

Secretary Lopez also assured the government is addressing the infrastructure needs of the country with its aggressive infrastructure program. MJAA

The Department of Tourism recognizes the importance of developing domestic airports in improving competitiveness and enhancing sustainable growth both in tourism and trade. It is also highlighted that the airports are not just gateways but more of economic growth drivers. This objective is included in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP).

During the 4^th Annual Philippine Airport Modernization and Expansion Summit, DOT Undersecretary Arturo Boncato, Jr. shared that the tourism sector generated more than 5 million employment and 12.2% contribution to GDP in 2017. Initial data shows that there are about $ 8 billion income generated from tourist arrivals in 2018.

The development of secondary gateways and provincial airports is one of the advocacies of the Export Development Council. By doing so, congestion in the capital, especially in the immediate and medium term, will be reduced, which in turn will mean lower travel cost for passengers.

To date, there are only 19 night-rated airports in the country. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the additional airports with Airfield Lighting System (ALS) are the following: Bohol/ Panglao Principal Airport, Subic Bay International Airport, Tuguegarao Principal Airport, and Naga Principal Airport.

The airports to be provided with ALS this year (2019) and currently being processed are the following: Cotabato Principal Airport, Cauayan Principal Airport, Dipolog Principal Airport and Pagadian Principal Airport.

The other recommendations for the domestic airport development are: (1) Modernizing the infrastructure and facilities of the domestic airports to accommodate direct flights to the major gateway of the Philippines, (2) Funding prioritization for the upgrading of domestic airports to provided night-landing and all-weather facilities for a more efficient operation and to emphasize safety improvements to meet International Civil Aviation Organization  Standards And Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPS), (3) Development of airports through Public-Private Partnership, and (4) Development of a coherent long-term investment plan for the airports.

CAAP assured of its continuous work to make more airports in the country night-rated. Equipping airports with night-rated capabilities will enable these facilities to serve more passengers. MJAA

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 07-2018 that approves the 7% increase of cargo handling tariff for international containerized and non-containerized cargoes at the two international terminals in Manila. The new rate takes effect on June 5, 2018.

PPA’s approved rate is lower than the 8.7% hike requested by the terminal operators, Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI), which operates the Manila South Harbor, and the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), which operates at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

Under their contracts with PPA, both terminal operators may file for a rate hike every two years. The last cargo-handling tariff rate adjustment was in 2015, when PPA granted an 8% rate increase. Their petitions are in keeping with PPA Administrative Order 02-2018 which prescribes the revised methodology and formula for adjustment of Cargo Handling Tariff.

Prior to the approval of the rate adjustment, the Export Development Council (EDC) expressed its opposition to the original 8.72% request using the Consumer Price Index (All Items) National Capital Region. The CPI (All items) Philippines shall be the factor of adjustment as provided in Section 7 of PPA AO 02-2018. If applied, the rate hike should have been 6.52%.

Hence, for loaded Container Yard/Full Container Load is charged at US$ 105.457 for 20 ft container and US$ 147.517 for 40 ft. container. Empty Container is charged at US$ 88.646 for 20ft and US$ 114.203 for 40ft. Schedule of Cargo Handling Tariff at Manila International Container Terminal and South Harbor can be downloaded at PPA website at  www.ppa.com.ph

Destination fees and surcharges imposed by international shipping lines cost the Philippine economy an estimated US$2 billion to $5 billion in losses annually, according to the joint report by the Export Development Council (EDC) and National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

This report entitled “Potentially Avoidable International Shipping Cost and Other Charges” was initiated by Dr. Enrico Basilio, Chair of the joint Committees on Transport and Logistics of EDC and NCC, and Mr. Michael Raeuber, CEO of Royal Cargo Group of Companies and former President of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP).

Highlights of the report were presented during the public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Transportation (COTr) last 17 January 2018 that tackled the Container Deposits and Related Charges imposed and collected by Agents of International Shipping Lines.

The document, based on a series of forums and a survey conducted last year, disclosed that for imports, freight accounts for an average of only 39% of the total amount paid to international shipping lines, while the so-called “destination charges” levied on Philippine importers by the carriers account for 61%.

For exports, freight costs accounts for an average of 25% of the total amount paid to international shipping lines (Carriers) while the so-called “origin charges” levied to Philippine exporters by the Carriers account for 75%.

The report said such costs undermine the country’s export competitiveness by increasing the cost of importing raw materials and intermediate goods. It noted that the hardest hit by these costs are the small exporters and importers (SMEs) because larger and regular importers and exporters are able to negotiate for better rates and terms with international shipping lines.

The report also undermines the competitiveness of domestic producers by increasing the cost of imported raw materials and intermediate products. Surcharges are also seen to make domestic consumers pay higher prices for imported products (for final consumption) since the “added” import cost is passed on to them.

COTr Chairman and Catanduanes representative Cesar Sarmiento said that with these claims and result of the report, the next hearing will be a joint meeting with the House Committee on Economic Affairs to find the best solution for the situation.