The Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) said it is forestalling implementation of the policy on accreditation of logistics service providers and traders that are transporting controlled chemicals because it needs more time to iron out concerns and issues regarding the matter.
Though PNP Memorandum Circular (MC) 2017-11 was signed last February 5, it has not yet been implemented because of resistance from stakeholders and because “PNP has to iron out minor issues regarding the accreditation,” PNP chief inspector Roan Marie Bascugin of the FEO, explained in a recent presentation during the Forum on Government Accreditation Requirements for Logistics Providers.
Bascugin said the PNP was supposed to implement the policy by end of this month, but it will not because it requires more time to address the concerns not just of stakeholders but also of the national police as a regulatory body.
MC 2017-11 covers guidelines and procedures for accrediting logistics providers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, truckers, manufacturers, dealers, and purchasers that have company-owned vehicles used to transport controlled chemicals on truck lorries, tractor head loading container vans, closed vans, and similar other vehicles.
She added that PNP will not necessarily amend MC 2017-11, but will just issue a subsequent or additional memorandum or policy to clarify or address concerns.
Issues and concerns
According to Bascugin, a key reason for suspending the implementation of MC 2017-11 is the issue of exclusivity.
Under the policy, accredited company-owned vehicles must be exclusively used to transport and move controlled chemicals.
Stakeholders, however, “clamored that this provision be removed because the transport and movement of controlled chemicals is not a regular thing… they would want to use their company-owned vehicles for other purposes,” Bascugin explained.
Another concern is the requirement for global positioning system (GPS).
Under MC 2017-11, transport service vehicles (TSVs) of accredited logistics providers (ALPs) should be enabled with GPS devices that will allow PNP to more efficiently monitor the location, direction, and position of such vehicles in transporting controlled chemicals from the origin to the intended destination “possibly in near real time basis.”
During the open forum, a stakeholder commented that the PNP memorandum gives GPS a general definition when there are different kinds and specification of such device.
Bascugin replied that PNP FEO met recently regarding GPS device providers to address specification requirements. She said the definition and specification of the required GPS device will be part of the subsequent policy that PNP will issue.
Another concern is the schedule of fees. Bascugin said there is already a proposed new schedule of fees for permits and licenses that is yet to be approved and signed.
The chief inspector also clarified that trucks to which logistics service providers outsource the handling of controlled chemicals must still undergo accreditation to check their capability to carry such chemicals.
Advance notice
Bascugin, meanwhile, assured stakeholders that they will be informed in advance before MC 2017-11 is implemented and will be given time to familiarize themselves with the policy.
Previously, transporting controlled chemicals entailed the presence of police officers who were compensated for their professional services. But under MC 2017-11, this function becomes the responsibility of ALPs.
PNP noted that controlled chemicals are considered dangerous goods, which when transported “require a higher degree of caution, prudence, and diligence as well as exacting standards of safety and security”; thus, the need to accredit ALPs.
PNP said one of the benefits to be derived from this shift in authority includes the lifting of the burden from the national police of “depleting its human resources whose services are better use for the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs.”
It added that the use of TSVs is “inarguably safer and more cost efficient, reducing safety accidents by more than 80% and increasing productivity levels by more than 50%.”
The accreditation certificate will be valid for one year from date of issuance, and application for renewal must be filed 30 calendar days before the certificate expires.
The PNP chief or his authorized representative, upon the recommendation of the accreditation board, will impose penalties on accredited ALPs that fail to do the following: maintain a permanent record of all transactions, submit reports on a monthly basis, submit erroneous reports, and observe the guidelines in moving controlled chemicals.
For the first offense, a penalty amounting to half of the accreditation fee will be imposed, and for the second offense, 100% of the accreditation fee will be levied. Third-time offenders will have their accreditation revoked.
Accreditation may also be revoked if an unlicensed person or entity moves or transports controlled chemicals without a permit; an unlicensed or unlisted driver does the transporting; or the applicant submits falsified documents when seeking accreditation. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of yodiyim at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
