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The first Philippines Air Cargo Day conference-exhibit and workshop on November 3-4 provided participants priceless insights into the airline and air cargo forwarding industries
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Key government and private sector figures shared their expertise on air cargo trends,
e-commerce, digitalization and how operations coped with the pandemic
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International Air Transport Association officials Andre Majeres (eCommerce and Cargo Operations head) and David Wee (Operations, Safety and Security (Cargo)-Asia Pacific regional manager) presented on global cargo trends and industry updates
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Transport Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim discussed how the Philippines is shaping up as a potential air cargo hub and government policies supporting the aviation industry
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Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Atty Carmelo Arcilla unveiled an initiative to create a unified accreditation system for air and sea freight forwarders while Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan batted for BOC adoption of IATA’s electronic air waybill initiative
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Other valuable takeaways on Day 2 were provided by IATA’s Dangerous Goods Workshop
The first Philippines Air Cargo Day conference-exhibit and workshop organized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc., and PortCalls on November 3-4, 2022 concluded successfully with a payload of industry lessons.
The two-part event at Manila Marriott Hotel was attended by more than 90 participants from the airline, air freight forwarding industries and allied sectors.
The conference-exhibit on November 3 was graced by international and local experts who shared their expertise on topics including air cargo trends, e-commerce, digital transformation, and measures taken to keep operations going during the pandemic.
Transport Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim spoke about the potential of the Philippines as an air cargo hub and the various government infrastructure and policy projects to support the aviation industry.
Doris Torres, executive director and chairperson of Education and Training of PMTLAI, gave a presentation on private sector initiatives, including knowledge sharing and intensifying collaboration with government and other industry stakeholders, as well as the association’s plans to establish chapters in Visayas and Mindanao.
Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla discussed his agency’s efforts and measures to streamline procedures and cut red tape in the accreditation and permits process for airlines and airfreight forwarders.
Arcilla announced an initiative to further streamline the accreditation process by creating a unified accreditation system for both air and sea freight forwarders.
READ: DOTr, DTI draft MOU for unified accreditation of forwarders
Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport district collector Carmelita Talusan gave an overview of the BOC’s trade facilitation programs for the air freight sector, including various milestones in leading to the speedy release of COVID-19 vaccines and border protection efforts.
READ: BOC-NAIA official to push for e-AWB adoption
Talusan also announced she would help push for BOC implementation of IATA’s electronic air waybill initiative.
Clark Development Corp.’s Trade Facility Division manager Marigrace Gutierrez, meanwhile, discussed CDC’s information and communications technology programs and gave an update on the air cargo operations and facilities at Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
IATA Operations, Safety and Security (Cargo)-Asia Pacific regional manager David Wee gave detailed information on global air cargo trends, cargo digitalization and the opportunities it offered.
He also briefed participants on two new policies that will affect the aviation industry – Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) requirements and the European Union Import Control System Release 2 (EU-ICS2).
Another IATA expert, eCommerce and Cargo Operations head Andre Majeres, discussed e-commerce trends and online retailers’ shipping models, and how air cargo is now key to e-commerce. Likewise, he reviewed the cargo digitalization transformation journey and how it is now driving businesses. Majeres likewise shared IATA’s One Source and smart facility certification programs.
Industry representatives Rosemarie Rafael, CEO of Airspeed International Corp., Jose Laurente Jr. assistant vice president of Cebu Pacific Cargo, and Cherry Castillo-Lee, assistant vice president Cargo Sales and Cargo Business Philippine Airlines talked about how their operations were able to thrive and the lessons they’ve learned during the pandemic.
Jasraj Chug, co-founder and director of Cargo Flash Infotech; Yvonne Lee, managing director of DHL Global Forwarding Philippines; and Undersecretary Lim discussed newfound opportunities in digital adoption and shared their journey through digitalization.
Eight lucky participants, meanwhile, won round-trip tickets each for regional flights sponsored by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines during raffles at the event.
On the second day of the event on November 4, IATA officials led a Dangerous Goods workshop attended by more than 50 participants.
The workshop, led by David Brennan, Cargo Safety and Dangerous Goods head of IATA, provided updates on the airline association’s dangerous goods regulations for 2023.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ aviation safety inspector Gina Marie Lazo gave an overview of existing regulations in the country, including references to national legislation and supply chain management, while Jason Siy, PAL vice president for cargo business, shared key challenges in moving dangerous goods in the country.
Workshop participants received an electronic copy of the 64th edition of the IATA 2023 DG Regulation and a workshop certificate of participation. – Roumina Pablo
