DAVAO CITY — The plan to make Davao region as the alternative logisics hub in Southeast Asia got a green signal from Regional Development Council chairperson Corazon Malanyaon.
Malanyaon who is also the Governor of Davao Oriental said she is throwing all out support to the plan as it brings more opportunities to Davao region.
Chairperson Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon strongly supports the proposed plan to push the development of the Davao Region as an alternative logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
The RDC chair met Bureau of Customs (BOC) Davao District Collector Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria recently said “The plan meand socio-economic and cultural growth for Davao region as it will further strengthen the trade and economic relationship among Southeast Asian regions. including Davao Oriental.”
The need to establish an alternate logistics hub has been hatched because according to Atty. Austria “The ports of our neighboring countries like Singapore is now getting congested and the need to explore alternative ports in the neighboring countries like the Philippines is necessary and is becoming a must.”
The characteristics for an ideal hub is present in Davao region. The geography, the climate and other requirements of a logistics hub are all here in Davao Region.
He noted that all the elements of an ideal logistics hub are already here in the Davao region, particularly in terms of its strategic location closer to other ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Indonesia. Atty. Austria added that opening Davao Region as an alternative logistics hub could also help decongest ports in Manila, thereby cutting transport costs and facilitating efficient trade.
Governor Malanyaon said the proposal is timely with the upcoming development of Metropolitan Davao and the ongoing updating of the Davao Regional Development Plan. She added that it is high time to explore this opportunity, especially now that the region has just been relaunched as investment and tourism-ready following its declaration as insurgency-free.
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While the region’s traditional gateway for trade has always been Davao City, the RDC is entertaining possibilities of exploring other alternative ports in the region, particularly the City of Mati, where one of the three subports in Mindanao is located.
According to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Lim, Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat has proposed a 50-hectare expansion of the city’s existing port, which aligns with the proposed plan to explore more potential markets for the region’s local products.
Facing the high seas of the Pacific, the City of Mati in Davao Oriental has vast potential as another port and a new link to the global supply chain. Atty. Austria said this could be another chapter for trade in the region to have a trading route outside the Gulf of Davao.
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In support of the proposal, Governor Malanyaon, as the RDC Chairperson, commits to revive the Davao Gulf Development Plan 2011-2013, approved by the Council way back in 2011.
With the synergy and convergence of all critical stakeholders, Gov. Malanyaon hopes this will become a key to building an economy wherein everyone benefits from shared prosperity and development.
