The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is proposing to harmonize the accreditation process of freight forwarders.
The DTI through its Digital Philippines Supply Chain and Logistics Management Division (DigitalPH-SCLMD) last week conducted a public consultation on the proposed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on Harmonized Online Freight Forwarder Accreditation (HOFFA).
Mary Jean Pacheco, DTI assistant secretary, said the JMC aims to streamline the process of accreditation of sea and air freight forwarders by creating a unified application form and establishing a single system.
Pacheco said this will improve the process and promote ease of doing business for freight forwarders.
Maria Cecilia Paguirigan, Air Carriers Account and Field Audit Division chief of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) who was also in the meeting reaffirmed CAB’s support to harmonize accreditation procedures with DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB).
Under the JMC, freight forwarders are mandated to secure certificate of authority through a single system using a unified application form. The JMC will also reduce the number of documentary requirements for the accreditation.
The application and documentary requirements will also be assessed within three days.
