-
Around 200 stakeholders and government representatives joined the Logistics Services Philippines Conference & Exhibit 2026, which served as a premier venue for high-level dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders
-
Department of Trade and Industry-Supply Chain and Logistics Group undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco, in her closing remarks, said the conference “aims to solicit possible interventions to help grow the sector”
-
The conference focused its discussions on logistics optimization, infrastructure, digitalization, trade facilitation, and green logistics
Around 200 industry stakeholders and government representatives participated at the Logistics Services Philippines (LSPH) Conference & Exhibit 2026, which served as a premier venue for high-level dialogue between policymakers and sector leaders.
The May 6 event at Fairmont Makati was organized by PortCalls in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry-Supply Chain and Logistics Group (DTI-SCLG) and members of the LSPH, a private sector-led platform dedicated to enhancing the seamless movement of goods and reducing national logistics costs.
DTI-SCLG undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco, in her closing remarks, said the conference “aims to solicit possible interventions to help grow the sector.”
In her keynote address, Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) undersecretary for policy and planning group Rosemarie Edillon had offered to work together with the industry, which she noted is “really facing a lot” of regulatory bottlenecks.
“Let’s work together towards having a very efficient logistics sector. Let us know what you want…” Edillon said, suggesting to prioritize urgent matters while also working on long-term measures.
“Let us know what your pain points are. We may not be able to address all of them and so I ask that you prioritize… I hope that with this conference, you can come up with actionable points so we can take it up with the corresponding… economic development committee of the DepDev,” she added.
Relatedly, DepDev assistant secretary for Investment Programming Group Roderick Planta during the same event said they will be working on a Philippine Transportation System Master Plan that will serve as the core strategic framework for the development of the passenger and cargo transportation system of the country.
During the first panel discussion on logistics optimization, Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations chair and vice president Rina Papa highlighted the need for a whole-of-system approach to address fragmented policies and operational efficiencies, particularly for truckers.
Philippine Liner Shipping Association president Mark Matthew Parco spotlighted the impact of the ongoing oil crisis on the shipping sector, while also recommending actions to help navigate the crisis.
International Air Transport Association Philippines country manager Samuel David put focus on digitalization in the aviation sector, and reiterated their recommendation for the Philippines to finally implement electronic air waybill.
Asian Terminals Inc. assistant vice president for Commercial, Ports & Terminals Reginald Rivera shared updates on their operations, as well as the potentials of decentralizing trade activity to ports such as Batangas and Subic to help ease congestion in Metro Manila.
On the government side, Philippine Ports Authority-Port Operations & Services Department manager Josephine Napiere provided common supply chain challenges and highlighted the role of technology in optimizing the logistics sector.
Infrastructure and digitalization
During the second panel on infrastructure, Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines president Pierre Carlo Curay shared his thoughts on the role infrastructure plays in lowering logistics costs, while International Container Terminal Services, Inc. vice president for Philippine portfolio Phillip Marsham shared key insights on how strong port infrastructure drives economic growth — enhancing trade efficiency, generating employment, and strengthening global competitiveness.
Planta, meanwhile, gave an overview of the Philippine Infrastructure Development Agenda, outlining how strategic investments are being aligned to support a more sustainable and competitive logistics sector.
The third panel on digitalization had Department of Information and Communications Technology secretary Henry Aguda outlining the government’s push to accelerate digitalization across the logistics and trade ecosystem.
Management Association of the Philippines president Donald Lim, also the founder of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines/Global AI Council Philippines, zeroed in on how digitalization is shaping a living ecosystem in logistics.
FAST Logistics chief information officer Leonardo Sacamos Jr. discussed digitalization in logistics, sharing FAST’s digital systems and experience.
During the fourth panel on trade facilitation, Bureau of Customs-Port Operations Coordinating Group chief Atty. Julito Doria shared their agency’s trade facilitation programs, while Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc. president Erich Lingad tackled trade facilitation and customs procedures as critical enablers of supply chain efficiency.
The fifth and last panel focused on the transition to sustainable energy in the logistics sector, with Department of Energy-Energy Utilization Management Bureau director Patrick Aquino reporting on the government’s actions while Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines president Willy Tee Ten provided a private sector perspective.
Panel discussions were moderated by Ateneo De Manila University-John Gokongwei School of Management dean Roberto Martin Galang, Professional Regulation Commission-Professional Regulatory Board for Customs Brokers chair Samuel Bautista, Super Green Lane Association president Cris John Garcia, and International Trade Center business digitalization advisor Jeremiah Acena.
Conference sponsors included FedEx (Silver Sponsor); Asian Terminals Inc., Fast Logistics, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., and LBC Express (Bronze Sponsors); Airspeed, GO21, Development Bank of the Philippines, F2 Logistics Philippines, Inc., InterCommerce Network Services Inc., and Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, TradeX Network, Inc. (Exhibitors); and URC, Prime Philippines, and Universal Robina Corp. (Partners) each showcasing solutions that address the evolving needs of businesses navigating global and domestic trade.— Roumina Pablo
