Philippine businesses are grappling with high costs due to inefficiencies in the country’s transport and logistics systems, according to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
PCCI president Enunina Mangio said the country’s ports outside of Metro Manila remain underutilized, while Manila’s ports are congested. Alternatives such as the Batangas and Subic ports are operating far below their potential, she said.
“This imbalance is a stark example of inefficiency,” Mangio said at a PCCI general membership meeting Wednesday.
“Transportation costs in the Philippines rank among the highest in ASEAN and even across Asia,” she said.
Mangio said poor infrastructure and regulatory conflicts add unnecessary burdens to businesses and raise the cost of goods. Mangio also cited conflicts of interest among transport agencies, noting that the Civil Aviation Authority and maritime regulators act as both regulators and commercial players.
She said these structural flaws inflate operational costs and hamper efficiency. Road bottlenecks further worsen connectivity, disrupting the movement of goods and people and threatening food security by undermining agricultural supply chains.
Despite years of engagement between the private sector, government and stakeholders through the PCCI Transport and Logistics Committee, the Philippines continues to lag behind its regional peers, Mangio said.
She stressed the need for targeted reforms and a regulatory environment that promotes competition and efficiency.
“We can either accept our current infrastructure limitations as permanent constraints on Philippine competitiveness or unlock our unique geographic advantage as a hub at the heart of Asia’s dynamic trade routes,” Mangio said.
 warns that inefficiencies in the country's transport and logistics systems are raising business costs and stifling competitiveness.){kind=link}