SCMAP draws up activities to support supply chain practice

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The 2017 SCMAP Board of Directors recently took their oath of office from inducting officer Labor Undersecretary Bernard Olalia. L to R: Unilever Philippines' German Martizano, XVC Logistics' Pierre Carlo Cura, Nestle's Anghelita Santor, Zuellig Pharma's Mark Philip Comandante, Procter & Gamble Philippines' Ma. Cristina Alvarez (directors); Johnson & Johnson Philippines' Clarissa Castillo (auditor); Fast Logistics' Manuel Onrejas Jr. (treasurer); LF Logistics' Dina Pilapil (corporate Secretary); Rustan Supercenters Inc.'s Christine Pardinas (vice president); and United Laboratories' Nestor Felicio (president).
The 2017 Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines Board of Directors recently took their oath of office from inducting officer Labor Undersecretary Bernard Olalia. L to R: Unilever Philippines’ German Martizano, XVC Logistics’ Pierre Carlo Cura, Nestle’s Anghelita Santor, Zuellig Pharma’s Mark Philip Comandante, Procter & Gamble Philippines’ Ma. Cristina Alvarez (directors); Johnson & Johnson Philippines’ Clarissa Castillo (auditor); Fast Logistics’ Manuel Onrejas Jr. (treasurer); LF Logistics’ Dina Pilapil (corporate Secretary); Rustan Supercenters Inc.’s Christine Pardinas (vice president); and United Laboratories’ Nestor Felicio (president).

For 2017, the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) aims to expand its membership and further strengthen its role in fostering a more efficient and competitive supply chain industry in the country.

SCMAP’s new president Nestor Felicio, in an interview with PortCalls on the sidelines of the organization’s Supply Chain Outlook 2017 event on February 7, said the group’s new thrust is “Connect, Engage, and Move.”

Felicio said the association intends to “Connect” by recruiting new members, especially from the retail sector which he said is fast growing and needs to be more represented in SCMAP. The organization, formerly called the Distribution Management Association of the Philippines, has members in various sectors of the supply chain industry.

Currently with chapters in Visayas (Cebu) and Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro), SCMAP will launch a new chapter in North Luzon this month and eyes another Mindanao chapter sometime this year. The organization also looks forward to increasing its engagements with its members by slating more interactive activities and events this year.

Under its thrust to “Engage”, Felicio said SCMAP hopes to leverage its diverse membership–from manufacturers and retailers to service providers–through collaboration.

“When each part of the supply chain is only thinking about optimizing themselves locally, individually, the tendency is to have duplication or conflicting objectives, and the overall supply chain suffers and costs across the supply chain (rise).

“So by hopefully working together, there’s an overall benefit, and this should make our supply chain better, more cost effective, more efficient, and will move us closer to becoming more globally competitive.”

SCMAP’s third thrust, “Move”, is about strengthening the association’s capability and sustainability. Currently, SCMAP is involved in government projects such as with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). It is also involved in the crafting of the country’s first National Logistics Master Plan as well as DTI and DPWH’s Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade program.

The association has likewise partnered with the academe to develop a supply chain course. Because this program is currently not yet available in the Philippines, supply chain professionals usually learn about operations or purchasing on the job. Felicio said there is demand for good supply chain professionals not just in the Philippines but overseas too, and even countries like the U.S. are starting to offer a master’s degree in supply chain.

With this academic tie-up, Felicio said he hopes SCMAP can raise the level of supply chain practice in the Philippines. – Text and photo by Roumina Pablo