Marcos orders 24-hour shipment processing

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement round-the-clock shipment processing, Malacañang said Thursday.

Marcos issued the directive during the fourth meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC)–Infrastructure Sector Group in Malacañang on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the President stressed the importance of continuing shipment processing to accommodate the arrival of more ships into the country.

He said there should be three eight-hour shifts to ensure circadian operations across all government services related to logistics and supply chains.

«In this business, there's no after hours… So, let's not put an extra team, let's just keep it running. Whatever you have there in the day, let the same number of people that you have all 24 hours,» the President said.

The PSAC recommended to the President a shifting schedule for the BoC and DA to ensure continuous inspection, clearance and payment process, significantly reducing costs and time, particularly the x-ray scanning of reefer vans.

PSAC Strategic Convenor, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Sabin Aboitiz presented to Marcos its recommendations during the meeting.

Also present at the meeting were PSAC members Enrique Razon, Manuel Pangilinan, Eric Ramon Recto, Joanne de Asis, Ramoncito Fernandez, Rogelio Singson, Christian Gonzalez and Daniel Aboitiz, along with PSAC Secretariat members Geraldine Polanco-Onganon, David Jude Sta. Ana and Cedric de la Cruz.

The PSAC is a group established under the Marcos administration to help the government deliver on its commitment to transform the economy by bridging the public and private sectors.

Composed of the country's tycoons and business leaders, the PSAC recommends to the President policies and programs in six sectors — infrastructure, agriculture, digital infrastructure, health care, jobs and tourism.