Friday, March 6, 2009

Great Speeches: Induction and General Membership Meeting Speech

On behalf of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), I am honored to be the guest speaker and inducting officer for this year’s induction of officers and board of directors of the Distribution Management Association of the Philippines (DMAP).

The DMAP has always embodied its mission to develop the distribution profession, to participate in the development of government policies and to directly improve each corporate member’s quality of service.

I have always been supportive in DMAP’s cause on lowering the cost of the distribution of goods as well as its contributions to the country’s logistics and distributions systems. For years now, we in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been carrying the torch and rallying on behalf of the business sector through your support in advocating for this cause.

I believe that distribution will always play a viable intermediary role in our country.

The real value of distributors lies on their function as informational intermediaries. A few years ago, a man named Adam Fein of Pembroke Consulting gave a very good interview about strategic planning and distribution management. He stated that many distributors are adopting a new strategic posture that many companies are recognizing that they can “profitably perform many functions that do not necessarily fall into the traditional purview of a distributor.” These functions comprise of activities that focus on delivering value to customers and suppliers. Knowledge about how and when their customers are using their products is significant because we have begun to respect data.

The PCCI has always aimed to help the government and bring about substantial developments in logistics management. One most notable results of PCCI’s intervention in this regard was the Road Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminal System (RRTS), reducing complexity, total distribution and auxiliary costs affecting the costs of goods and doing business in the country.

Highways and ports have been more and more systematized in order to achieve a reliable transport system which in turn, provides better distribution of goods. Furthermore, we at the PCCI have been participating with the government in policy formation, continuing to fulfill the role of being principal advocates of a globally competitive logistics and distribution management.

While efforts are being done and outcomes are being reaped as I speak, I still implore for everyone’s assistance to ensure the success and effectiveness of distribution management process. It is of utter significance that we achieve a solid, multi-sectoral participation and cooperation in coming up with the realization of measures and policies.

The cost of sea transport has been rising in the last decade especially in the last five years. Sea freight increases and cargo handling rate increases contribute to this. Cargo handling rates have been increasing until President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspended it in 2002.

The complexity of the current global environment challenges us to more competitive and collaborative to respond the needs and requirements of our stakeholders.

A of change cultural mindset needs to be carried out if we are to eliminate the obstacles that impede our competitiveness potentials. Leadership along with vigilance should exist on the floor. To link vigilance and operational reality, performance measures should be set to hone in on the right activities and help set common goals towards a better performance.

With the aid of your competent leaders, I look forward to your association’s continuing efforts to provide dependable education, innovation, and service to your members. Rest assured that you can count on PCCI’s support in our mutual commitment and goal of attaining sustainable growth and development for our nation.

On our part, we remain committed as a sounding board in economic and governmental affairs that affect the stake of the entire business community and the consuming public. On this note, under my leadership, PCCI will continue to remain active in participating in the preparation of a roadmap to institute key reforms that will allow our country to position itself better among the community of nations.

DMAP deserves much credit for serving as an observer and a doer of justice. By trying to eliminate collusion and corruption within the distribution profession, the Distribution Management of the Philippines continues to be one of the champions of the Filipino people. I look forward to all of us doing our part towards building a stronger logistics and distribution industry by helping each other combat issues and problems hindering our businesses from being fully productive and globally competitive.

Congratulations President Jun Gabrino and the 2005 DMAP Board of Directors and Officers!

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