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The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has formally turned over to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) the Unified Logistics Pass (ULP) system
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The ULP is a single pass in the form of a quick response code that will be issued to cargo trucks to ensure unhampered flow of goods
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The ULP is being pilot tested in three areas: Cavite Export Processing Zone, Clark Freeport Zone, and Subic Bay Freeport Zone
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Phase two of the system will start this year while full implementation will be in 2023
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The Philippine Ports Authority will not adopt the ULP, saying it already has its own system
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has formally turned over on June 28 the Unified Logistics Pass (ULP) system to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The ULP is a single pass in the form of a quick response (QR) code that will be issued to cargo trucks to ensure the unhampered flow of goods. It is intended to eliminate various permits, licenses, and pass-through stickers being required by economic zones, ports, and local government units (LGU) in order to facilitate movement and ease of port entry of cargo trucks.
The ULP system was turned over to LTFRB by ARTA and Developers Connect Philippines, Inc. (DevCon), which developed the system.
Under the ULP’s memorandum of agreement signed by various government agencies and project partners last January, once the pilot implementation of the ULP is completed, the LTFRB will become the owner and lead implementer of the ULP system.
“With the potential success of this system, we hope that we will be able to boost the country’s competitiveness, facilitate trade, promote economic growth, and contribute to the improvement of the gross domestic products,” ARTA officer-in-charge and deputy director general for operations Ernesto Perez said in a speech during the turnover ceremony.
The ULP adopts a single registration scheme for trucking companies, and the QR code provided would be scanned and accepted by all government agencies including LGUs, port authorities, and economic zones.
The project was officially launched last January with the signing of a MOA and joint memorandum circular for the pilot implementation by various government agencies, port operators, and private sector partners.
READ: Single pass for cargo trucks launched this month
Last May 16, the Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region has formally turned-over to the LTFRB the 244 mobile devices and 344 powerbanks to be used in the implementation of the ULP. The mobile devices will be used to scan the QR codes.
The ULP is currently being pilot tested in three areas, Cavite Export Processing Zone, Clark Freeport Zone, and Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
READ: Cavite, Subic, Clark ecozones pilot single pass for cargo trucks
The plan was to also pilot test in various ports under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). However, Perez during the turnover ceremony, said PPA has refused to adopt the ULP, saying they already have a system in place. He said he hopes the incoming PPA administration will accept the system.
Phase two of the system will start this year while full implementation will be in 2023, Perez noted.
Truckers may register online at ulp.ltfrb.gov.ph to get their QR code, which they can use in the three pilot areas.
The ULP is a migration from the RapidPass, an online system developed by DevCon and was implemented in 2020 giving frontliners and Allowed Persons Outside of Residences quick passage through checkpoints in Metro Manila during community quarantine periods.
The ULP is part of ARTA’s National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies or Project NEHEMIA. Launched in March 2020, Project NEHEMIA is a sector-based streamlining effort that involves both capacity building with identified agencies and public hearings with stakeholders regarding existing and new regulations.
Logistics is one of five sectors included in the first phase of Project NEHEMIA. Under the project, the goal is to reduce within 52 weeks the time, cost, requirements, and procedures involved in government transactions in sectors of economic and social significance.
In October 2020, ARTA launched Project NEHEMIA for the logistics sector to integrate all the “sticker requirements” imposed on cargo trucks by concerned government agencies and LGUs. – Roumina Pablo
