A technology-based supply chain and logistics monitoring system has been launched to help address issues in the movement of goods experienced in this crisis.
Called Supply Chain Analytics (SCAn) Dashboard and Incident Reporter Mobile App, the initiative was commissioned by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to the Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development (RESPOND) project in response to complaints by stakeholders on the movement of goods during this pandemic.
NEDA chairs the Support Group for Supply Chain Analytics created by the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19. Members of the Group include the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
In his speech during the event, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), underscored the importance of the SCAn dashboard in “addressing supply chain bottlenecks that hamper the flow of goods, especially medical supplies and essential products that are critical in fighting COVID-19”. He also thanked NEDA and the RESPOND Project for carrying out this important initiative.
“The IATF-EID and the National Task Force (NTF) against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) can better respond to supply issues needed in the country’s fight against the pandemic. “[There is a] need to urgently address supply chain disruptions which delay the government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis… to avoid worsening the inequality across regions which is in part due to inefficient logistics, especially in the inter-island interface”, said NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro.
The Dashboard helps in visualizing supply chain problems and features pages that provide summaries and videos of incidents, geographical maps and other visuals. It also serves as an online reporting tool to help IATF determine where logistics bottlenecks are located, facilitate timely and informed decisions, take appropriate measures, and effectively monitor the progress of its interventions.
As part of the preparations for these systems, a Networks Hub was convened by RESPOND on April 1. It consists of industry associations that include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), Export Development Council (EDC), and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) to generate information through regular surveys on supply chain bottlenecks and potential solutions from the subnational, regional and local stakeholders. Relevant information gathered by these organizations are lodged in the dashboard.
Meanwhile, the mobile app complies with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) rules and regulations on data privacy and vulnerability assessment to ensure its integrity and reliability.
The launch was also attended by Dir. Ariel Valencia of the Department of Health (DOH) representing Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Co-Chair of IATF; Undersecretary Isidro Purisima and Undersecretary Arnulfo Pajarillo representing Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Policy on COVID-19 and Head of the National Incident Command; Dr. Henry Basilio, Chief of Party of RESPOND, and Pierre Carlo Curay, President-elect of the Supply Chain Management of the Philippines (SCMAP) representing the Networks Hub. — RESPOND