PH leaps to 60th spot in Logistics Performance Index

by admin | Jul 28, 2018 | Headlines

The Philippines (PH) continues to improve its global ranking with the latest World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2018 edition.  From 71st spot in 2016, the country leaped to 60th among 160 countries ranked according to their trade logistics performance.

“We are now reaping the fruits of the government’s reforms and these are seen globally. Guided by President Rodrigo Duterte’s mandate for a better and more comfortable life for our countrymen, we have developed a program to improve logistics services in the country to address related issues, foster more investments, and generate more jobs,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

PH recorded a 2.9 LPI score in 2018 compared to 2.86 score in 2016. The country posted increases in four out of six indicators:

1. International shipment indicator – measures the ease of arranging competitively priced international shipments

2. Tracking and tracing – ability to track and trace consignments

3. Infrastructure – evaluates the quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure
4. Logistics competence – competence and quality of logistics services

The Transport and Logistics sector is one of the 12 industry priorities under the Inclusive Innovation-led Industrial Strategy (I3S) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The agency has been active in promoting the sector to attract investments and has initiated reforms to address reliability, high logistics cost, as well as customs procedures.

“We are now focusing on facilitating solutions to issues on port congestion and high shipping cost,” said Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Undersecretary Rowel Barba.

The DTI-Competitiveness Bureau (DTI-CB) is collaborating with the private sector to transform the logistics services sector through regulatory reform, assurance of quality, communication, and knowledge management (TRACK program).

Under the DTI TRACK program, several projects benefitting the logistics services sectors are lined up.  These include: the establishment of a supply chain and logistics observatory; an online resource tool that will contain relevant supply chain and logistics data; standards development; marketing and promotion; and logistics planning for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

“The recent LPI score is proof that the Philippine government’s efforts to level up our logistics industry are now being acknowledged by global industry players. And while the quality of the country’s infrastructure facilitates faster and more efficient way of transporting goods through the “Build, Build, Build” program, government transactions are now being simplified and streamlined with the recent enactment of the Ease of Doing Business law,” Usec. Barba added.

DTI forfeits surety bond of violating cement importers

by admin | Jul 26, 2018 | Headlines

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has forfeited the surety bonds of some importers for violations of government rules, regulations, and standards that affect consumer safety.

Violations committed by importers are mostly on selling of cement without any Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) or Statement of Confirmation (SOC). The SOC is proof that the cement passed quality testing.  It is a DTI rule that cement retailers should possess the SOCs of the cement they are selling.

With the influx of cement entering 25 out ports of the country coming from Vietnam, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and even from Pakistan, the DTI forfeited the surety bonds of some violating cement importers, as provided under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No 17-06, Series of 2017.

The DTI underscores that rules are formulated and enforced to ensure consumer welfare and protection. For cement, its quality should comply with standards set under Philippine National Standards (PNS) 07:2005 and PNS 63:2006 to ensure that structures built using cement will remain durable and not collapse, and prevent the loss of lives and danger to consumer safety.

The DTI advices cement buyers to ask for the SOC of retailers when purchasing said product to ensure that these are compliant with the rules and standards set by the Department. The SOC shows the brand, importer, manufacturer, date of manufacture, and batch number, among others, which are likewise imprinted on the cement bags that are being sold in the market.

DTI taps startups for Project One: Government to make information on business registration more useful

by admin | Jul 24, 2018 | Headlines

The Department of Trade and Industry, the temporary Secretariat of the Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA), is partnering with the startup community in implementing Project One—  One form, One number, One portal for business registration.

Banking on the millennial start-up revolution, the government will begin its collaboration with start-ups in developing a content-rich portal that will make available important LGU information to investors, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as potential entrepreneurs.

The ASEAN Task Force on Starting a Business has identified the lack of information on government registration process and the lack of understanding on the benefits of registration as constraints that need to be addressed to encourage the registration of micro, informal, and family enterprises.

In 2017, the New Zealand Government conducted a scoping mission in the Philippines and observed the absence of available information about the business registration procedures in LGUs, which resulted to repeated visits in government offices and delayed completion of process due to incomplete submission of requirements, since businesses are not fully aware of the documentary requirements and the process. An online portal is seen to solve this constraint.

Project One, the first project of the newly created Anti Red Tape Authority— will use the Design Sprint in creating a prototype of the online portal for LGU  business registration processes.  Created by Google Ventures, Design Sprint is extensively used in the private sector by the world’s most innovative companies. Over the last few years Design Sprint is increasingly used in the public sector due to their high levels of productivity, efficiency, and customer orientation. Creative HQ of New Zealand is the facilitator of the Design Sprint for the Anti Red Tape Authority.

Prior to the Design Sprint, a Boot Camp was organized to select the seven members that will form part of the core team. The participants were selected from the startup community, with proven experience in business innovation and information and communication technology (ICT).

“This is the first time the Philippine government will deploy Design Sprint to solve business registration problems in an innovative manner.  We have high hopes that this is a good start after the law on ease of doing business has been enacted.  We expect that with the successful creation of a prototype, we will be able to address the lack of information which has been identified as a major bottleneck for investors and MSMEs. We hope to transform how government works with the use of technology (govtech)”, said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

The first Design Sprint on the online portal for LGU registration processes is scheduled on July 23-27.  The next Design Sprint will create the framework for one Philippine Business Number (PHBN), and the third and last Design Sprint will develop an end-to-end registration process.