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Various government agencies committed to the crafting of a memorandum of agreement that will address issues of shipping lines
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The issues in particular pertain to the application for registration and clearances of ships
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The pledge of commitment was signed by representatives of various agencies on November 29
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The MOA seeks to create a technical working group that will look into problems of the domestic and international shipping industry
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A joint memorandum circular will also be issued to streamline processes on clearances application via a one-stop shop
Various government agencies committed to the crafting of a memorandum of agreement that will address issues of shipping lines, particularly when it comes to application for registration and clearances of ships.
The pledge of commitment was signed on November 29 during the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Logistics Forum.
The MOA seeks to create a technical working group that will look into problems of the domestic and international shipping sector.
Agencies expected to sign the MOA include the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Board of Investments, Department of Migrant Workers, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Transportation, Philippine Statistics Authority, and Philippine Ports Authority.
ARTA in early November said it was eyeing the establishment of a business one-stop shop (BOSS) to streamline the permits process for the shipping industry. This came after ARTA facilitated a series of meetings following concerns on the lengthy accreditation and processing of permits for initial operation of shipping companies, the agency said in a statement.
The authority said the BOSS initiative is part of its mandate under Republic Act (RA) No. 11032, or the and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, to recommend policies, processes and systems to improve regulatory management to increase productivity and efficiency of agencies covered by RA 11032.
Alongside the MOA, a joint memorandum circular (JMC) will be issued to prescribe a streamlined and integrated process for the application of clearances through the establishment of a BOSS. ARTA said this will make the process of securing clearances more efficient and will reduce operational costs for both domestic and international shipping lines.
The JMC is also intended to strengthen competitiveness of the shipping industry by avoiding costs due to unnecessary delays and other inefficient government services.
In August, the Philippine Inter-Island Shipping Association (PISA) in a courtesy call to new MARINA and PPA officers shared their list of industry issues and recommendations, including the need to streamline government transactions and document requirements; and enhance electronic capability.
An umbrella organization of various domestic shipping groups, the group recommended removing MARINA and the Office for Transportation Security’s overlapping roles on ship security mandates.
As with other stakeholders, PISA asked PPA to review its rules on accreditation and issuance of permit to operate, including guidelines requiring the planting of mangroves before an accreditation is issued. Last September, PPA suspended the application for accreditation while it reviews the policy. – Roumina Pablo
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