The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and partner agencies have agreed to resolve the ongoing concerns in the shipping industry, including streamlining of processes and reducing operational costs.
At the Logistics Forum 2022 on Tuesday, Nov. 29, ARTA Director General Ernesto V. Perez spearheaded the launch of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Partner Agencies to Address Concerns on the Philippine Shipping Lines. Other government agencies and private sector groups involved in the ARTA initiative are Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation, Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations, Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PhilExport, Supply Chain Management of the Philippines, Philippine Coalition of Consumer Welfare Inc. and Magsaysay Group of Companies,
The parties also signed the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to address the congestion at the Port of Matnog.
The parties agreed that the planned MOA will provide for the creation of a technical working group for domestic and international shipping to oversee the ongoing concerns.
Meanwhile, the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) for seeks to streamline/integrate processes and requirements for the application of clearances to decongest the port of Matnog through the creation/establishment of a Business One-Stop-Shop (BOSS).
This is to ensure a more efficient process of securing clearances and to reduce the operational cost of shipping lines and customers.
The JMC seeks to reduce congestion, particularly in the queuing, marshalling, loading and embarking of passengers and rolling crafts. The JMC is also seen to ensure the efficient delivery of government services in the port and address the rampant fixing activities in the immediate vicinity of the Port of Matnog.
The JMC is expected to provide streamlining and automation through the BOSS, bundling of fees, and single window system.
Through the online portal, users of the port would be able to reserve in reservation and pay for ticket before their arrival at the port.
To avoid various payment transactions, the JMC will also provide for the bundling of fees. This means that the price of a passenger’s ticket shall already be inclusive of all relevant fees, such as the roll-on/roll-off (RORO) terminal fee, passenger terminal building fee, local government unit fees, and other related processes.
There will also be implementation of a single window in relation to the queuing and pre-marshalling procedures and other related verification and confirmatory processes.
ARTA said that MOA and the JMC intend to strengthen the competitiveness of the shipping lines industry by avoiding costs due to unnecessary delays and other inefficient government services.