-
PortCalls hosts LSPH (Logistics Services Philippines) Partnership Lunch with Department of Trade and Industry Supply Chain and Logistics Group and LSPH members
-
The lunch is in preparation for the LSPH Conference and Exhibit 2026 on May 6 at the Fairmont Makati
-
DTI conducted a real-time survey during the lunch to ensure the May 6 program remains responsive to the immediate needs of the industry
-
The results revealed a community navigating rough seas amid volatile geopolitical shifts and economic headwinds
-
Preferred conference theme centered on immediate concerns such as spiraling fuel prices
-
The survey identified the Department of Transportation as the most critical agency for industry engagement. However, the prominent mention of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Energy, and the Office of the President underscored a collective demand for stronger top-level direction and inter-agency coordination
-
Eradicating corruption was the top priority if the Philippines hoped to achieve major logistics hub status by 2040
In a critical preparatory step for the upcoming Logistics Services Philippines (LSPH) Conference and Exhibit 2026, industry news and events provider PortCalls hosted a Partnership Lunch on March 30 at the Fairmont Makati. The gathering brought together 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.
The lunch served as a foundational meeting for the full-scale conference and exhibit scheduled for May 6, 2026, at the Fairmont Makati Ballroom. Since its establishment in 2018, LSPH has operated with the DTI as its convenor and secretariat, advocating for systemic reforms to boost Philippine logistics efficiency.
Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco led the DTI SCLG officials in attendance, joining partners from the DTI Supply Chain and Logistics Center and various logistics associations to finalize the trajectory for the May 6 milestone event.
Stakeholder Survey: A Call for an “Emergency Reset”
To ensure the May 6 program remains responsive to the immediate needs of the industry, DTI conducted a real-time survey during the lunch. The results revealed a community navigating rough seas amid volatile geopolitical shifts and economic headwinds.
- Immediate Priorities: 39% of respondents favored the theme “Immediate: The Emergency Reset,” highlighting a desperate need for action on current cost and operational bottlenecks.
- Long-term Vision: 36% supported a focus on the “Vision 2040: Anchor / Destination Asia’s Logistics Hub,” while 25% emphasized medium-term foundations leading up to the end of the current administration’s term in 2028.
- Engagement Format: A significant 55% of participants expressed a strong preference for one-on-one engagements between the private sector and government, signaling a move toward more candid, solution-oriented dialogue over traditional panel formats.
Targeting a Whole-of-Government Approach
The survey identified the Department of Transportation as the most critical agency for industry engagement. However, the prominent mention of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Energy, and the Office of the President underscored a collective demand for stronger top-level direction and inter-agency coordination.
Regarding the surge in fuel costs, participants prioritized government-led fiscal measures, specifically:
- Direct fuel subsidies
- Suspension of fuel taxes
The Road to 2028 and 2040
Looking toward 2028, stakeholders identified digitalization and policy reform as the most vital actions to lock in, with a focus on fully digitalizing customs, ports, and national logistics platforms.
When asked what radical change is required for the Philippines to emerge as a major logistics hub by 2040, the consensus was clear: eradicating corruption remains the top priority. This was followed by calls for infrastructure connectivity, institutional reform, ease of doing business, and sustainability.
A Compass for the Industry
As the sector faces a difficult economic climate, the upcoming May conference aims to act as a compass, offering a vision rooted in strategic positioning and resilience.
“The conference is meant to empower logistics service providers to align their strategies with national policy, ensuring that the movement of goods remains seamless despite a difficult economic climate,” said PortCalls Publisher Liza Almonte.
The LSPH Conference and Exhibit 2026 is being organized by PortCalls in partnership with DTI SCLG and LSPH.
