QR code system for truckers turned over to LTFRB for smoother travel — ARTA

MANILA, Philippines — A system that would make truckers’ deliveries faster and smoother using quick response (QR) codes has been turned over to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said.

In a statement sent to reporters on Wednesday, ARTA encouraged truckers to use the Unified Logistics Pass (ULP), which would eliminate the problem of needing various passes required by the corresponding local government units (LGUs).

Undersecretary Ernesto Perez, ARTA’s officer-in-charge, said that this is also the agency’s contribution to the logistics industry, especially with fuel prices rising due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“We are all victims of the rising prices of gasoline so, the least thing that we can do is to make it smoother, easier, and faster for truckers to travel simply from the point of entry to the point of exit,” Perez said.

“That is the least thing that we can do to assist the Logistics sector to increase productivity and competitiveness and enhance our recovery from the pandemic situation,” he added.

Under the ULP system, trucking companies can get the pass after applying for a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) from LTFRB, or when they apply for accreditation with special economic zones where they can go.

With the unified application form, truckers can simultaneously apply for accreditation with other port authorities and economic zones, aside from having a uniform payment system through a one-stop shop.

The QR code will be given to the company, which can be scanned by authorities from either the ports, the economic zones, or even the LGUs.

According to ARTA, the Department of Science and Technology’s National Capital Region office (DOST-NCR), with the help of the Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON), turned over 250 mobile scanners and 344 power banks to the LTFRB for the pilot implementation of the program.

The idea was said to be hatched upon observation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) RapidPass system, which was used during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify whether vehicles moving around Metro Manila and nearby provinces were authorized persons outside of residence (APOR).

LTFRB Information Technology Officer III Ariel Marace thanked ARTA for fulfilling its mandate of streamlining government services.

“Ang ULP ay hindi magiging posible, successful kung wala ang partisipasyon ng mga ahensya, lalong lalo na ang ARTA,” Marace said.

(The ULP would not be possible and successful if not for the participation of government agencies, especially ARTA.)

Marace also pleaded to truckers and ports to cooperate with the government offices — as Perez noted that some ports still refuse to utilize the ULP system even when it comes at no cost to the government and ARTA facilitating training.

“Kami po ay humihingi rin ng kooperasyon sa ating mga truckers, lalo na po sa ating mga ports, na sana po itaguyod talaga natin ang proyektong ito. Lalo na ngayong masyado tayong nahihirapan, una sa pandemya, pangalawa sa giyera na dinadanas natin ngayon,” he added.

(We are asking for the cooperation of our truckers, especially from our ports, as we hope that we will support this project.  We need this given these times of hardships, first due to the pandemic and second due to the war that has affected the world.) With reports from Andy Hoo, INQUIRER.net trainee

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