The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing for the creation of a unified and single accreditation system for all freight forwarders in the country to further streamline the processes and enhance the delivery of service for businesses.
Under the draft Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC), the DTI, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and the Free Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) will jointly implement the circular once approved. The DTI is still seeking comments from stakeholders.
“The JMC aims to streamline the accreditation of sea and air freight forwarders by creating a unified application form, streamline of processes, and the establishment of a single digital system for the accreditation of sea and air freight forwarders,” the draft JMC stated.
Specifically, the JMC aims to harmonize documentary requirements and improve the business process to promote ease of doing business for freight forwarders. It will also set the operational guidelines for the online system dubbed as the HOFFA (Harmonized Online Freight Forwarding Accreditation).
In addition, it will define the institutional mechanism between implementing agencies to enhance service delivery for businesses engaged in freight forwarding.
Under the JMC, the DTI and the DOTr will develop and implement a unified system for the accreditation of air and sea freight forwarders.
Accreditation is mandatory for all air and sea freight forwarders shall, prior to operation or upon renewal. All freight forwarders must secure a Certificate of Authority through the single system, and apply for the renewal before or within the period prescribed.
A unified application form shall be used in applying for certification by any person desiring to operate as a sea and/or air freight forwarder.
The new system will also abolish the mandatory notarization of new and renewal applications, provided the applicant submits an undertaking that all information provided in the application form is true and correct.
Electronic signatures are accepted in the submission of applications to the single accreditation system.
In addition, documentary requirements for the issuance of freight forwarder accreditation shall be reduced and posted in the single system in accordance with RA 11032.
In addition, all applications and documentary requirements shall be reviewed, evaluated and validated within three days provided that all requirements are complete based on the pertinent regulations of the DTI, DOTr or CAB as the case may be.
The Certificate of Authority shall be valid for a period of five years unless suspended, cancelled or revoked whether by DTI-FTEB or CAB. This certificate is also non-transferrable to any other firm or individual.