A total of 44 seafreight forwarders have been newly accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) as of November this year, bringing to 668 the total number of accredited companies.
Of the newly accredited, 29 are categorized as international freight forwarders, 12 domestic freight forwarders, and three both domestic and international forwarders.
DTI-FTEB noted that 64 of the accredited also handle balikbayan (personal effects) boxes and are engaged in door-to-door seafreight forwarding services.
Meanwhile, DTI has revoked the accreditation of forwarders Globalnet International Freight, Inc. and D’Winner Logistics Phils., Inc., while seven other accredited forwarders have been charged with formal complaints and are awaiting decision on their cases.
Three accredited forwarders—Eastrans Line Phils., Inc., Vanguard Logistics Services Philippines, Inc., and Triple V Worldwide Logistics, Inc.—have show-cause orders for complaints of overcharging.
Forty-two blacklisted unaccredited foreign freight forwarders and their local counterparts have been handed cease-and-desist orders with penalty, while 18 cases are awaiting decisions.
Moreover, DTI has blacklisted 52 foreign freight forwarders and consolidators as of November 28 in a drive to penalize erring freight forwarders.
The function of seafreight forwarders accreditation is now under DTI-FTEB as part of the department’s rationalization this year. Previously it was handled by another DTI agency, the now defunct Philippine Shippers’ Bureau.
If plans push through, the accreditation of seafreight forwarders may soon be transferred to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
MARINA is now revising Circular No. 186 related to the accreditation of maritime enterprises engaged in international shipping to include seafreight forwarders. Seafreight forwarders have long sought the transfer of their accreditation from DTI to MARINA to ensure that all freight forwarders are overseen by only one department. Airfreight forwarders are being regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board, a DOTC agency.
MARINA has started consultative meetings on the draft circular with stakeholders. – Roumina Pablo
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