THE Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB) is pushing for the immediate release of an executive order (EO) that will transform the agency into the Supply Chain and Logistics Bureau (SCLB).
The new body is tasked to protect the interest of all players in the supply chain and not just shippers, the current focus of the PSB, agency chief Atty. Pedro Vicente Mendoza told PortCalls.
“Once approved and issued, the SCLB will have expanded authority, including an oversight function to police all stakeholders falling under its new name,” Mendoza said.
“This will address the clamor of shippers for an agency monitoring activities of all players, particularly service providers… (the new agency) will also have a hand in (coming up with) rate-setting mechanisms.”
Mendoza said, “We will first focus on the (logistics) cost to make Filipino shippers more competitive in the international market.”
The EO is expected to be released before yearend, he said.
At the moment, PSB is toothless with regard to policing players in the shipping industry, particularly international shipping lines.
PSB and the Philippine Ports Authority have tried to unbundle logistics costs to throw light on each of the cost components. This is to address complaints of supposed “hidden charges” imposed by cargo service providers.
It may be recalled that there was also an earlier proposal for the transfer of PSB’s accreditation powers over international freight forwarders to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) but this may not be the case now with the impending creation of the SCLB. Under the earlier scheme, Marina will also have supervisory powers over international shipping lines.
