In the midst of the enhanced community quarantine imposed over Luzon to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 – and the events that stemmed from that across the country – SCMAP has continued to work with its partners in the public and private sector to ensure that the country’s supply chain keeps moving in this most critical time.
Despite the imposition of the quarantine period, the government has reiterated that movement of goods should be unhampered. Vital businesses such as supermarkets and pharmacies were also mandated to remain open to ensure residents continue to have access to essential products during the month-long quarantine.
However, especially in the early days of the quarantine, there was some confusion on how this will be implemented, with both a lack of clear guidelines and varying interpretations from different parts of government.
Together with other industry associations, SCMAP has been gathering feedback, providing insight, and relaying suggestions to relevant government agencies, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry, which has led the way in ensuring the country’s supply chains can continue to serve its customers.
In the past week, SCMAP has contributed to the clarification of guidelines regarding the movement of raw materials, production materials and finished goods to and from ports, manufacturing facilities, warehouses and stores. It has pushed to clarify what counts as “essential goods”, and also advocated for movement of personnel that are essential to the processing and delivery of these goods; this has resulted in the system of IATF IDs being provided to manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers.
It has also met with various government agencies, such as the DTI, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police, to ensure that the national government’s mandate to keep goods moving is cascaded down properly to frontliners and local government units.
SCMAP has kept its membership updated every step of the way, with daily morning advisories updating them of the latest developments. It has leveraged its chapters across the country to provide updates not just on the quarantine in Luzon, but also of similar measures being implemented by local government in Visayas and Mindanao.
It has also flown the flag for the industry through various media appearances. Before the quarantine was declared, past president Nestor Felicio spoke to CNN Philippines on COVID-19’s impact on businesses; yesterday, president-elect Pierre Carlo Curay spoke to ANC on the lockdown’s impact on supply chain.
For its part, SCMAP has also practiced social distancing by postponing its events and closing its offices, with its team working from home in the interim.
SCMAP strongly believes that a competitive supply chain is vital to ensure that its customers have access to products and services, providing a boost to the economy and also ensuring the country’s well-being. It is therefore important to #keepsupplychainmoving.
We will continue to work throughout this enhanced community quarantine and beyond to ensure that we move the global competitiveness of Philippine supply chain. We also count on your support: provide us feedback through the SCMAP social media channels, or become a member.