OSS, TWG address port congestion, shipping issues

The Anti-Red Tape Authority, together with various government agencies, will put up one-stop-shops to streamline port clearance procedures and form technical working groups that will address business concerns of domestic and international shipping lines.

The OSS will be implemented through a joint memorandum circular among ARTA, port authorities and trucking companies, the agency's director general, Secretary Ernesto Perez, told members of the media at the sidelines of the Logistics Forum 2022 held at the PICC in Pasay City on Tuesday.

A separate JMC for the OSS in the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon will try to improve the queuing, marshaling, loading and embarkation of passengers and rolling cargoes with the ultimate goal of ensuring efficient public service, curbing rampant fixer activities and reducing shipping cost, he said.

The TWG, meanwhile, will be formed through a memorandum of agreement among the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Finance, the Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Maritime Industry Authority, the Philippine Board of Investments, Department of Transportation, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Statistics Authority and the Philippine Ports Authority, Perez added.

Online portal
The OSS involves the creation of an online portal for use by the stakeholders in making advance reservation and payment for a ticket before arrival at the port. The payment shall be made through the portal and the price of the ticket shall be inclusive of the roll-on/roll-off terminal fee, passenger terminal fee, local government fees and other relevant fees.

Perez said red tape is still happening at the local government unit level.

"Most of the time, some LGUs are asking logistics companies for incremental charges and permits. Kawawa naman silang mga (They are pitiful the) truckers as this red tape makes their shipments experience delays. This is amid the unified logistics pass or ULP that has been effective since 2020," he revealed.

ULP, which replaced the Rapid Pass system uses QR code instead of stickers to transport goods through LGU checkpoints.

Trucking companies can get a ULP when they apply for a Certificate of Public Convenience with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Once approved, the trucking companies shall be given a QR Code that can be easily scanned by different government authorities including port and economic zones authorities.

The ARTA chief said both MoA and the JMC intend to strengthen the competitiveness of the shipping industry by avoiding costs due to unnecessary delays and other inefficient government services.