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A second batch of companies and organizations have signed up as partners of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Supply Chain and Logistics Center
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Members of the newly-formed Supply Chain and Logistics Guild – a network of seasoned logistics and supply chain professionals committed to providing pro bono guidance to micro, small, and medium enterprise – formally took oath on February 11
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DTI is also working on establishing a physical SCLC hub in Taytay, Rizal by the first quarter this year
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As of February 11, the SCLC portal has recorded over 21,000 visits from 6,000 unique visitors, and addressed “real world hurdles” of MSMEs, according to DTI undersecretary for Supply Chain and Logistics Group Mary Jean Pacheco
A second batch of companies and organizations have signed up as partners of Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Supply Chain and Logistics Center (SCLC).
At the same time, members of the newly-formed Supply Chain and Logistics Guild – a network of seasoned logistics and supply chain professionals committed to providing pro bono guidance to micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSMEs) – formally took oath on February 11.
The second batch of new partners include the Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc. (AISL), Fintech Alliance PH, GO21 Inc., In-line Logistics, J&T Express, JRS Business Corp., Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia (PASIA), Mober Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (PCCBI); Private Express and Messengerial Association of the Philippines (PEMAP); Shopee Xpress, Toyota Motor Philippines, and Victory Liner.
They join the initial 18 companies and associations that pledged their support in June 2025 during the launch of the SCLC.
READ: DTI forms supply chain & logistics ‘guild’ to assist MSMEs
The center aims to help MSMEs with their logistics and supply chain requirements, providing them access to real-time support on freight inquiries, service referrals, and regulatory guidance, among others.
“Logistics is a vital pillar of our national resilience. By integrating these industry leaders into our network, we are ensuring that essential supply chains remain operational even under challenging conditions. Our goal is to create a secure movement of goods that protects both our businesses and the Filipino consumers they serve,” Trade secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement.
Under the pledge, the partners commit to work with SCLG by ensuring MSMEs and cooperatives receive “white-glove” service so they can benefit from fast, reliable, and high quality transport and delivery services, and to provide access to relevant trade and logistics information.
They also commit to offer “preferential and discounted rates on logistics services for MSMEs”, as well as to contribute expertise and resources “to help MSMEs strengthen their logistics and supply chain capabilities.”
Moreover, the partners will facilitate prompt action on business-related complaints concerning transport and delivery services encountered by MSMEs.
To facilitate the fulfilment of the pledge, the partners should designate a liaison officer to coordinate and oversee the contributions of their organization under the partnership.
Moreover, the partners affirm their commitment “to building an inclusive and resilient logistics ecosystem, recognizing that it is the bedrock for more competitive businesses.”
CRITICAL VULNERABILITIES
In a separate statement, DTI said the expanded partnership with private sector partners aim to address three critical vulnerabilities in the national supply chain: disaster response, export competitiveness, and inter-island trade.
DTI said central to partnership is the mobilization of private fleets during national emergencies.
By partnering with land transport leaders like Toyota Motor Philippines and provincial bus company Victory Liner, alongside green logistics provider Mober, DTI said it aims to ensure that the movement of food, medicine, and relief packs does not grind to a halt when calamity strikes.
As Philippine exports continue to climb, DTI said it is “ensuring that local logistics capabilities can keep pace with international demand”, thus, the inclusion of AISL and PCCBI is designed to bridge the gap between local production and global markets.
To also lower prices for local consumers, DTI said it is leveraging the “last-mile” expertise of courier service providers J&T Express, Shopee Xpress, and JRS “to create a seamless flow of products across the country’s 7,600 islands, making it as affordable to ship goods between provinces as it is within Metro Manila.”
The SCLC – directly under the DTI Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG) – has two components that went live during the launch last year–the hotline (632) 7791.3100–7252 (SCLC) and the online portal (supplychainlogistics.dti.gov.ph).
The hotline provides real-time assistance to callers on logistics issues, service referrals, rate estimates, and supply chain troubleshooting. The portal will house relevant supply chain data, service directories, logistics cost benchmarks, and decision-making tools.
SCLC HUB
DTI is also working on establishing a physical SCLC hub in Taytay, Rizal by the first quarter of this year.
DTI undersecretary for SCLG Mary Jean Pacheco, in a speech during the event, said the SCLC “has achieved significant momentum.”
As of February 11, the SCLC portal has recorded over 21,000 visits from 6,000 unique visitors, which Pacheco noted is “a humble but promising start.”
“More importantly, we are already addressing real world hurdles from finding SME-friendly rates for international shipping to helping exporters of fragile food products like cashews and cookies to reaching the U.S. market,” Pacheco added.
The Guild, meanwhile, includes professionals and exports in transport, shipping, warehousing, cold storage, import/export processes, procurement, financing, IT, analytics, packaging, and business process improvement.
By sharing expertise, SCLG said the Guild empowers entrepreneurs to overcome operational challenges and strengthen competitiveness.
Guild consultant and FAST Logistics Group chief executive officer for logistics Manuel Onrejas Jr. said the guild is a timely platform for logistics professionals to share what works on the ground and help MSMEs build the resilience needed to compete.
He noted that as disruptions, cost pressures, and service expectations rise, businesses need stronger, more adaptable supply chains.— Roumina Pablo
