SCMAP gathered top industry stakeholders in a discussion of the issues affecting supply chains during the year-end peak period in its final General Membership Meeting of 2018, held last 15 November at the EDSA Shangri-la in Mandaluyong City.
Taking part in the panel discussion were Association of International Shipping Lines president Patrick Ronas and general manager Atty. Max Cruz; Chamber of Customs Brokers president Atty. Ferdinand Nague; Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines director Mary Zapata; and Inland Haulers and Truckers Association president Teddy Gervacio. Helping set the stage for the event is John Montoya of the Export Development Council’s National Committee for Transportation and Logistics.
Among the issues discussed are recent congestion in the ports, the question of transporting empty containers, and the recently announced “days of rest” slated for next week to be staged by several trucker and customs broker groups, including INHTA, to bring attention to these issues. This has led to spirited discussion among the panelists and delegates, which included SCMAP members and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
The GMM aimed to make attendees grasp the bigger picture of these issues, particularly as the situation has no one cause as opposed to the port congestion of 2014, widely attributed to traffic policies implemented by the city government of Manila. It also sought to promote further collaboration among stakeholders in the pursuit of a more competitive and world-class supply chain for the Philippines.
The event also saw the induction of two new members to the organization: P.J. Lhuillier Inc., represented by Ysabelle Alonzo, and individual member Edgardo Fausto. It also saw the kick-off to the election of SCMAP’s 2019 Board of Directors, voting for which is ongoing until 23 November.
SCMAP’s next General Membership Meeting is slated for 18 April 2019.