ARTA touts measures to address supply chain

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) on Friday said it had implemented measures to help address the supply chain issues in the country, assuring firms in the industry of continued government support.

Ernesto Perez, undersecretary and officer in charge of Arta, said the government body was very supportive of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines’ projects, programs, and initiatives, citing that both their goals were aligned.

“A strengthened supply chain management system will definitely contribute to a more competitive Philippines with an improved state of doing business,” the Arta official said.

Perez said that the anti-red tape organization has implemented initiatives, specifically those aimed at streamlining systems in logistics, as well as in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The Arta official said this policy direction was aimed at implementing the directive of President Marcos to improve services in the logistics sector amid complaints from agricultural product transporters and freight forwarders on the policies and checkpoints imposed by local government officials.

Included in these measures highlighted by Arta is joint memorandum circular No. 2021-01, or the omnibus guidelines on pass-thru fees.

This issuance prohibits the collection of fees and taxes on the transport of goods and products including, among others, charges for wharfage, tolls for bridges, sticker fees, discharging fees, delivery fees, market fees, toll fees and entry fees.

Arta also cited the Unified Logistics Pass, a unified quick response (QR) code, which facilitates the unrestricted movement of trucks for hire that are delivering basic goods and necessities.

The rationale in the use of the ULP is to eliminate all the different and individual pass-through stickers being required by economic zones, ports, and local governments to allow for a smoother flow of vehicles, as well as ease port-entry restrictions for trucks.

The ULP was turned over by Arta recently to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier in July of this year.

Trucking companies can avail of this pass when they apply for their certificate of public convenience from the land transportation body or when registering with special economic zones.

The QR code, which will be given to the registrants can be easily scanned for verification by different government authorities including those in ports, special economic zones, or by representatives from local governments.

Perez also highlighted the Philippine Business Hub, which is formerly known as Central Business Portal, which was launched earlier in June of this year.

The PBH is a single online platform for registering businesses, which reduced the length of days for registration from thirty-three days to only seven days. INQ