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The Anti-Red Tape Authority and other key regulatory agencies are looking to establish a one-stop shop for shipping industry permits
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This follows a series of meetings ARTA facilitated amid concerns over the lengthy accreditation and processing of permits to initiate the operation of shipping companies
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ARTA says a memorandum of agreement creating a technical working group that will oversee the streamlining initiative could be signed this November
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and other key regulatory agencies are eyeing the establishment of a business one-stop shop (BOSS) for shipping industry permits.
This came after ARTA facilitated a series of meetings due to concerns over the lengthy accreditation and processing of permits to initiate operation of shipping companies, the agency said in a statement.
ARTA is targeting to sign a memorandum of agreement this November to create a technical working group that will oversee the streamlining initiative.
Earlier in August, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lamented the logistical challenges of transporters of agricultural products. He then directed government agencies to address these issues in order to lower the price of food commodities.
“The main objective is to follow the presidential directive and utilize a whole-of-nation approach to create a one-stop shop for government services,” ARTA officer-in-charge undersecretary Ernesto Perez said.
Present in the coordination meetings were the Department of Transportation, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, and National Bureau of Investigation and local government units.
Private sector representatives such as the Supply Chain Management of the Philippines, Association of International Shipping Lines, Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc., Philippine Liner Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association (PISA) also attended the meetings.
“This is really the policy direction of the government – to make it easier for people to deal with the government,” Perez added.
In a courtesy call in August on the new officers of MARINA and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), PISA shared its issues and recommendations to address various industry concerns, including the streamlining of government transactions and document requirements, and enhancement of electronic capability to allow for online transactions with stakeholders.
READ: Domestic shipping lines present laundry list of concerns to transport agencies
The group, an umbrella organization of various domestic shipping groups, also recommended removing overlapping roles on ship security mandates between MARINA and the Office for Transportation Security.
As with other stakeholders, PISA asked PPA to review its rules on accreditation and issuance of permit to operate (PTO), including guidelines on the requirement to plant mangroves as a pre-condition for the issuance of accreditation.
In September, PPA suspended the application for accreditation pending review and until new guidelines on the PTO requirement has been approved.
