MCCI hosts logistics conference for a comprehensive understanding of its dynamics

MANDAUE CITY—The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) hosted a Logistics Conference Thursday, September 12 at the Waterworld Hotel in Mandaue City to provide a comprehensive understanding of its dynamics focusing on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities that are critical for staying competitive in this industry.

“The logistics conference was crafted after our partnership with the Unified Truckers Assn, and the Chamber of Customs Brokers.  The logistics industry is more of the backbone of our economy and basically the driver of our economic activities, and also much of the biggest contributor of our inflation rate is the congestion or the lack of an efficient logistics system that facilitates trade in the Visayas and the entire country,” MCCI president, Mark Anthony Ynoc said in a side interview with the Cebu media and content creators during the event.

Ynoc said that in recent years, the many changes in policies and labor laws have affected the logistics industry causing significant risks. While some policies have facilitated growth by reducing the trade barriers including the ease of doing business, others have added complexities that cost more. 

The future growth of logistics depends on growth collaboration between industry and government and it is crucial that policy makers recognize the role the logistics industry plays in driving the national and regional economies, Ynoc said.

“This conference offers us the opportunity to exchange ideas how we can overcome the challenges ahead, capitalize emerging opportunities and engage more closely with the policy makers to be sure that the logistics industry continues to be a pillar of economic growth,” Ynoc added.

According to Ynoc, Mandaue City is described as the industrial hub of Southern Philippines with so many factories and manufacturing business corporations and these are the clients of the logistics group.  Although the city is an industrial area, it’s moving faster to become a logistic hub and with ecommerce at the forefront of it all, there is a need to establish this foundation to help this industry.

Challenges, issues that hamper the growth of the logistics industry

The logistics industry of Cebu is actually growing and whatever challenges and issues it is facing much be addressed the soonest, otherwise the industry will be left behind by the other regions and this conference is more of a learning event.

The logistics industry is plague with congestion and traffic of exports and imports due to shortage of manpower, rise and fall of the gasoline prices and other fuel products, the changes in policies, duties, fees and insurance have affected how competitive the industry will remain in the market.

Israel Alin, President of the Visayas Unified Trucker Assn., Inc (VUTAI) said that this conference is very important to them and its stakeholders, especially that the organization represents the Visayas Truckers Assn. whose members are mostly composed of truck haulers, local and international haulers.

“It is very important to us because this is the right place and avenue for us to learn more and to have linkages plus hearing the new policies set by our government related to the logistics sector. It is very important for us to know and be updated at the same time, we can also suggest and ask questions relative the industry,” Alin said in an interview with media/content creators.

Alin bared that the primary concern of the logistics sector, especially in the Visayas region s the lack or shortage of drivers who are equipped and qualified to drive heavy equipment and huge vehicles dahil mas marami kaming trucks versus the availability of matitinong drivers.

“We lack drivers and we have difficulty finding them and to cope with the demand of the industry’s stakeholders. We also have difficulty to hire new drivers because there is no training facility here in the Visayas. There many unserved clients in this industry,” Alin revealed.

Alin said, the organization is currently working with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), TESDA and even the organization is moving to have its own training facility for it to be accredited by TESDA and LTO to ensure and provide better and quality drivers to balance the demands and needs of the industry to provide better and quality drivers.

Alin bared that the main concern of the logistics sector is especially in the Visayas include the shortage of human resource, especially skilled truck drivers; rules and policies from various local government units where some towns have policies that are not applicable in other areas.

LGUS with different policies induce additional expenses from the logistics groups, somehow affecting the pricing of commodities throughout the region and that costs are added to the consumers.

“As the logistics service provider our stakeholders, exporters and importers are dependent on the prevailing prices for example on the freighting and shipping of goods, sometimes, mas mahal ang local freights versus the international freights, which will result in more expensive commodities.  These are some of the pressing issues that must be talked about in the logistics,” Alin said.

Ynoc explained that the conference aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic logistics industry focusing on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities that are critical for staying competitive. “We invited experts in various fields to share valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance operational efficiency and provide new perspectives in the logistics industry,” he concluded. (Photos: MBCNewman)