By Digna Banzon/PNA
DAVAO CITY — A new shipping firm has submitted a formal intent to serve the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route, which has slowed down due to low load factor.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro on Sunday said this new development was discussed during a bilateral meeting between senior officials from the Philippines and Indonesia at the sidelines of the 2019 BIMP-EAGA Strategic Planning Meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia last February 14.
“It was a productive bilateral meeting to discuss next steps to restart the link following the submission of formal intent by the new shipping player, Reefer Lines,” he said.
Montenegro said the meeting agreed to convene the Philippines-Indonesia Joint Task Force on Davao-GenSan-Bitung Shipping, led by transport officials from both countries.
The Reefer Express Lines presented its existing shipping operations, which also covers Philippines-Indonesia route and all the way to the Middle East.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries. MinDA led the Philippine delegation, which includes private sector players currently doing business in the sub-region.
Montenegro said Reefer Lines presented a viable alternative, and that various Philippine-based companies have already shown interest to tap the route once regularly served.
For instance, he said Aboitiz Equity Ventures has remained committed to using the route for its export of Pilmico flour to North Sulawesi area. It is looking for possible export of feeds, especially after Aboitiz acquired Gold Coin Company last year.
