Logistics
industry bands together to combat hijacking
STAKEHOLDERS in the
logistics and transport business and concerned government
agencies recently joined hands on an anti-hijacking
campaign. "Project: Highway Security" was conceptualized
in response to the alarming growth in hijacking incidents,
particularly in Luzon.
The project calls for
the creation of the Anti-Highway Robbery on Commodities
Incident Center (AHRCIC) that shall undertake efforts
to provide/optimize security measures for the prevention
and detection of highway robberies while aiding law
enforcement agencies in the identification and eventual
apprehension of hijackers. A memorandum of agreement
(MOA) was signed among various groups including the
Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Trade
and Industry, Board of Investments, Philippine Economic
Zone Authority (PEZA); Philippine Association of Detective
and Protective Agency Operators Inc., Japanese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (JCCIPI), Semi-conductor
and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc.
(SEIPI), Confederation of Truckers Association of
the Philippines (CTAP), and the Aircargo Forwarders
of the Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) for the creation of
a mutual covenant identifying each sector's task.
"Highway robbery or hijacking is known as a form of
economic sabotage. Its staggering frequency resulted
in huge financial losses to the import-export trading
companies and revenue losses to the government," the
group stressed.
Last year, a total of
115 highway robbery cases involving cargo trucks mostly
loaded with assorted canned goods, sacks of rice,
computer equipment, electronic products, auto and
hardware materials and petroleum products was recorded.
More than P142 million was lost due to the hijacking.
Common targets are trucks/container vans and ten-wheeler
trucks loaded with consumer goods that can be easily
disposed. Under the MOA, the PNP is tasked to further
intensify intelligence build-up, including the enhancement
of its databank on target personalities and tighten
links with business groups for exchange of information.
The MOA also holds PNP responsible for developing
measures to secure highway robbery-prone areas and
ensure the safe transport of cargoes along the routes.
"These will include the conduct of dialogues and other
informative sessions with the drivers/helpers/crew
or collectively," it said.
The PEZA is tasked to
issue necessary orders to implement the color-coding
scheme and alert levels and require truckers/forwarders
to implement the security/color codes. Each region
in Luzon was given a color code: blue for Region 1;
green, Region 2; red, Region 3; orange, Region 4-A;
pink, Region 4-B; violet, Region 5; yellow, Cordillera
Administrative Region;and white with black letter
representing the five districts for the National Capital
Region. The color-coding scheme will help organize
truck routes and provide for a comprehensive database
of truckers, the MOA said. For their part, member
companies of JCCIPI and SEIPI will promptly report
any incidence of highway robbery. The associations
must also require truckers/forwarders to strictly
adhere to the color coding scheme, security alert
levels, and designated stop-over points and rest areas
prior to hiring.
Both CTAP and AFPI,
on the other hand, were tasked to conduct training
for drivers to adapt to the new security procedures
and color-coding scheme and encourage members to organize
and establish their own communication network.
INDUSTRY associations,
including the Air Cargo Forwarders of the Phils.,
Inc., are seeking suspension of Manila International
Airport Authority (MIAA) memorandum circular #07,
which allows the collection of an accreditation fee
for companies engaged in business within the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport complex.
Together with AFPI, the
Port Users Confederation Inc., Federation of Accredited
Customs Brokers & Forwarders of the Phils., Inc.,
Professional Customs Brokers Association of the Phils.,
Inc., Customs Checkers & Representative Organization,
Inc., and Ecozone Federation of Forwarders, Brokers
and Truckers Phils. are asking for a public hearing
on the validity of the circular. In a letter to MIAA
general manager Edgardo Manda, the associations claim
that the fee deprives "entry or access in the airport
complex, a government-owned facility, built from taxpayer's
money". It also "deprives the transacting public the
privilege to use government services." They said,
"the security plan requiring the petitioners to undergo
another accreditation by submitting documentary requirements…
is a clear indication of duplication of work.
The existence and proper
identification of the petitioners can very well be
guaranteed by the Bureau of Customs." In a separate
letter to MIAA's Manda, AFPI president Eduardo de
Guzman said the association members have "never been
an obstacle to public safety and security." De Guzman
also pointed out that freight forwarders and customs
brokers should not be asked to pay the P500 monthly
accreditation fee per company because they do not
fall under the classification of airport operators.
Forwarders and brokers, he noted, hold offices outside
the airport complex. The industry associations said
they are against charging their clients additional
handling fee just to cover the cost of the accreditation
fee. Still, they are nonetheless forced to pay to
avoid delays in releasing their clients' cargoes.
"No amount of money
should be collected in exchange for individual safety
in government-controlled offices or complexes," especially
when the person barred access is also denied the exercise
of his/her profession, a right guaranteed by the Bill
of Rights, the petitioners said.
CAB
studies new air service agreements with Myanmar
The Civil Aeronautics
Board (CAB) will negotiate for a new set of air service
agreements (ASA) with Myanmar by the third week of
April.
CAB Economic Planning
and Research chief Porvenir P. Porciuncula said the
board is reviewing the existing ASA to further improve
entitlements of the Philippines with Myanmar. "Basically,
we have to update some of the entitlements to meet
the terms of certain provisions set in the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) such as the policy
on multiple designations," he said.
Porciuncula disclosed
the CAB, through the Philippine air panel, will request
for additional destinations since Philippine-flagged
carriers have rights to only one destination - Yangon.
He expressed optimism that the request will be granted
considering Myanmar is promoting its historical and
tourist sites located in the different regions of
the country. In turn, the Philippines will offer additional
service destinations including Cebu, Davao and Subic.
Porciuncula said the Philippines may also have a separate
cargo entitlement with Myanmar since there is not
much cargo traffic between the two countries. "We
are not yet done with the specific requirements from
the airlines.
We have yet to study
the benefits that we can get in terms of cargo capacity,"
he pointed out. However, Porciuncula noted the CAB
will integrate in the ASA the promotion of Clark and
Subic in view of the existing open skies for cargo
policy in the areas. "We have to prepare in case the
cargo trade between Philippines and Myanmar suddenly
takes off," he said.
Air service negotiations
are also being renegotiated for Korea, Japan and Laos
- Maritess R. Mesias
Mercury Freight recently
went through a two-day team building session at the
Blue Seal Resort Hotel in Calamba, Laguna. The session
was attended by key executives and managers.
Fun in the sun for Team 005: Front
row (L-R) Florinio Coching, Ronald Bonjoc, Ronaldo
Roman, Atty. Rachel Majito, Patty Adrias, Atty. Marlita
Jandoquile, and April Coching-Lim. Back row (L-R):
Edgardo delos Reyes, Glizel Martinez, Marianito Aumentado,
Mary Ruth Bola–os, Deonardo Pagmanoja, Adoracion
Banaag, and Estrella Cruz
Members of Team 008 congregate around the billiards
table (L-R): Rene Nocon, Carlo Jalandoni, Atanacio
Mojica, Chris Coching, and Deonardo Pagmanoja
NEGROS Navigation Company
(NENACO ) recently reacted to the alleged harassment
of Cebu-based ship repair and drydocking provider
Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Inc. when it prevented
the sailing of Bacolod-bound M/V St. Peter the Apostle
last week.
On March 19, representatives
of Tsuneishi, a joint venture of Aboitiz Transport
System, accompanied by two sheriffs from Branch 5
of the Cebu Regional Trial Court, prevented the 2:00
pm scheduled departure of the NENACO vessel leaving
about 700 passengers delayed. Tsuneishi-Aboitiz claimed
NENACO owes them as much as P36 million for past drydocking
and repair services. The shipping firm, however, said
St. Peter the Apostle has a book value of P266 million,
which is "very much more than the amount being claimed
by Tsuneishi." "Tsuneishi-Aboitiz transformed what
had purely been a commercial disagreement, into a
scenario where they deliberately tried to hold more
than 700 lower income Filipinos hostage," said NENACO
president and general manager Conrado A. Carballo.
The shipping firm pointed out it has been making regular
payments to Tsuneishi, yet withheld recent payments
pending a previously scheduled renegotiation.
NENACO said Judge Ireneo
Lee Gako Jr. of the Cebu Trial Court directed lawyers
from Tsuneishi and Nenaco to amicably reach agreement
on a new repayment plans. "Why try to disrupt the
lives of ordinary passengers, when the courts in Cebu
specifically directed Tsuneishi-Aboitiz to sit down
with us, and work out an amicable payment plan?" added
Carballo. "What is their real motive? It seems that
they are ill-motivated, whose agenda is to harass
us. Otherwise, they would not have come here, complete
with a retinue of policemen and reporters and thereafter
conduct a press conference," Carballo pointed out.
The shipping firm said it has been keen on setting
a new repayment plan and schedule to reopen talks
but received no response from the other party.
All passengers stranded
aboard the St. Peter were transferred to NENACO's
St. Joseph the Worker, bound for Bacolod last Saturday.
The shipping firm announced all other schedules remain
unaffected.
AROUND 15 golfers belonging
to the Fore!!!Warders Golf Association trooped to
Cebu recently to attend the Cebu Fun Golf Tournament
held at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.
Participants included
Options Logistics' Manny Pascual and Angel Lee; International
Consolidator Phils., Inc.'s Erich Lingad and Marlon
Villanueva; IFE Forwarding's Vic Del Rosario; World
Link's Pol Tolentino; Fast Info's Alex Honrado; Airlift
Asia's Rico and Arnold Brizuela; Conrad Fuentes; Eric
Sanchez; ICPI's Jun Javier; Options Cebu's Ben Yu;
Mercury Freight's Bayani Coching; and Purcia Logistics'
Guilbert Purcia.
The Blind Callaway champions
were Arnold Brizuela (Class A) with a gross of 85,
handicap of 24 and net of 61; Pol Tolentino (Class
B) with a gross of 91, handicap of 14 and net of 77;
and Vic Del Rosario (Class C) with a gross of 111,
handicap of 33 and net of 78.
In between breaks at the Alta Vista Golf and Country
Club
Blind Callaway champions Arnold
Brizuela (Class A), Pol Tolentino (Class B), and Vic
Del Rosario (Class C)
