Farewell

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This is my 345th column. This means I have been writing this column for over 13 years. To be honest, I lost track of the number of columns. But this will be my last.

 

I wrote about many different topics, but basically under three groups: (1) DMAP / SCMAP activities and events (2) supply chain management knowledge and (3) DMAP / SCMAP advocacies.

 

I enjoyed writing most about DMAP / SCMAP advocacies.

 

Among the topics I liked best were:

 

  • Cartels. Prime example was the domestic shipping lines cartel. Former cartel head Boi Balbon, now deceased, openly talked to me about this when he became MARINA administrator
  • Regulatory capture. Tet Gambito was the first to bring up the term to the open for public consumption. Regulatory agencies could be bought. People might recall that former NEDA head Romulo Neri openly used the term.
  • Legislatory capture, I coined the term to drive home the point that legislators could also be bought. Also add the term “executory capture”.
  • Highway robberies included actual hijackings and pilferage, and other forms of robbery aided by government agencies which could also be called highway robberies.
  • High domestic shipping rates. Of course the situation has persisted for decades and the topic has been overworked. Up to now the situation continues. But the first stab at high rates was struck by DMAP when it opposed the petition for increase at MARINA. Without DMAP efforts in the 1990s, rates now would be significantly higher.
  • Conflict of interest. My favorite example is the situation of PPA, which regulates cargo handling rates, but has a share in the rates. The situation is true for both domestic and international. For sure SCMAP is not alone in this battle, but the conflict remains to this day.
  • Unfair impositions. In the early 1990s, there was an attempt to pass on to cargo owners the cost of port workers’ HR benefits I recall being pressured to sign in behalf of DMAP.
  • Campaign contribution for GMA from ICTSI. TV commercials were paid for by ICTSI (Uy loving-loving, Uy hangin-hangin. openly shown on TV).
  • Ridiculous proposals. People might still recall the odd-even traffic scheme proposal, blatantly ignoring the objective of movement of goods and materials.
  • EO 59. The brazen attempt to set up a port services monopoly (“unified contractor”), using Erap.
  • Businessmen published a whole-page ad about their solid support for Erap. Same businessmen switched over to GMA when Erap was deposed. These businessmen are now staunch supporters of P-Noy.

 

And the list goes on…

 

I am very glad that I was able to write about the above. More than that, I am proud to have been involved in the above battles.

 

Now it is time to go. I have to face another battle, cancer.

 

As I leave with 25 years of DMAP/SCMAP behind us, a different challenge faces SCMAP. Former NEDA head Cielito Habito has issued a challenge to businesses, which is to enhance the efficiency of their supply chains to seize the opportunities offered by regional and global production networks as the Asean integration starts next year. Firms need to focus on improving supply design and strategic location of various business functions.