Subic Bay Freeport – Truck traders inside this premier Freeport formed a collective front to provide a more efficient trading inside this premier Freeport with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
During a stakeholders meeting at the Urban Deli Café here, truck traders owned by various nationalities discussed plans to create a collective front wherein they could do business with the SBMA without the hassle of doing it per company.
Newly-elected President Rey Nadar of the new Subic Truck Importers Association said that by creating a group, a representation will be made that will provide seamless communication between them and other government agencies like the SBMA when conducting their business here.
He added that companies such as the Jan Japan, Subic 361, Lino Khan Intl. Corp., Japhil Intl. Trading Corp., K&B, Subic Auto, Northeast, JP Matariss, and AJS Subic Intl. Corp., with most of them owned by foreign companies, joined the association.
“SBMA Chairman Eduardo Aliño liked the idea of having a group that will represent the whole truck traders inside this premier Freeport since it will be easier for the agency to discuss matters. The SBMA Board of Directors were also interested in having discussions with our group,” he said.
During the meeting, Vice President Taqel Husnain showed the group a visual presentation regarding one of the issues the truckers are facing such as the change of cubic meter measurements based on the bill of lading and in actual measurement affecting the fees that they are paying for the arrastre (entity who performs portside cargo handling operations).
He also shared the good news that the Amerasia International Terminal Services, Inc. (AITSI) will be giving the members of the Subic Truck Importers Association a 20 percent discount (based on BL) for terminal charges.
Rounding off the newly-elected officials aside from Nadar and Husnain are Directors Engr. Muodasac of Karmanwala; Chaudry Iftahar of Subic Auto; Shammad Warraich of Jan Japan; Shahzad of Japhil; Malik Shabir of Tramway; Usman Saeed of Subic 361;and Nelson Jaro of Kansai.
The group’s consultant Michael Sullivan proposed the creation of a Facilitation Assistance Office (FAO) for truckers that will assist the members regarding their concerns with the SBMA, Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Internal Revenues (BIR), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and other government agencies.
Sullivan discussed the problems that truckers are encountering. He also mentioned the importance of truckers in the economy, employment, and investments of SBFZ. Creation of an organization that will represent them is the best way to avoid hasrassment and ensure equal treatment amongst trucker regardless of the nationality.
He also discussed that the CREATE MORE ACT is on its second reading, which will grant back the incentives and privileges of businesses under PEZA and SBFZ.