A total of 849 companies are engaged in sea freight forwarding in the Philippines as of February, according to latest data from the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB).
The bulk or 605 of the aggregate handles international shipments, 188 domestic shipments, and 52 balikbayan (personal effects) boxes.
New entrants for 2015 include domestic freight forwarders Schenker Distribution Solutions, Inc. and Harbor Air International Logistics, Inc., which are also engaged in international sea freight forwarding.
In a related development, FTEB in its latest advisory has advised shippers and consignees to submit their complaints about balikbayan shipments along with a copy of the waybill, cargo receipts, and supporting documents. This is part of DTI’s drive against erring freight forwarders.
FTEB has already blacklisted 54 accredited foreign freight forwarders/consolidators with no known Philippine counterparts and with pending complaints.
Eight non-accredited foreign freight forwarders/consolidators with no local counterparts were also blacklisted with pending complaints for operating without accreditation and non-delivery of balikbayan boxes.
Cases against seven unaccredited foreign freight forwarders and their Philippine counterparts had earlier been endorsed to the Department of Justice or the Provincial Prosecutor for Investigation.
For non-delivery of balikbayan boxes, four accredited foreign freight forwarders and their local counterparts were formally charged while three foreign forwarders were slapped with a petition for revocation of accreditation.
One forwarder has been issued a show cause order for overcharging while one had its accreditation revoked. Moreover, 29 foreign freight forwarders were ordered to cease and desist and to pay penalties for transacting business without FTEB accreditation.
When DTI implemented its rationalization plan last year, the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau, which used to accredit sea freight forwarders, was split into two divisions – the FTEB and the Supply Chain and Logistics Management Division (SCLMD).
The function of accrediting sea freight forwarders was transferred to FTEB; matters relating to the supply chain were assigned to SLMD. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
