Monday, August 27, 2007 Medco leads MOU signing for ports
A MEMORANDUM of understanding (MOU) to formalize the creation of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security Consultative Committee for the Ports of Cagayan de Oro City (CIQS-CCPCDO) have been signed August 22, 2007 at the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
Undersecretary Virgilio L. Leyretana of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) who led the signing said the MOU is aimed at addressing the cross-cutting issues and concerns of CIQS-CCPCDO which was organized primarily to serve as a coordinating mechanism for information dissemination and a venue for discussion of CIQS issues and gaps.
He said in 2001, leaders of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia and the Philippine East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) countries have renewed their commitment ad support to economic cooperation through the revival of cross-border development activities aimed at increasing trade, investments and tourism in the region.
However, BIMP-EAGA continues to face the challenge of how to integrate a geographically disjointed area of many islands separated by distance and by sea.
Among the factors that impede the free flow of people, goods and services in the sub-region are the stringent and varying degree of implementation of CIQS rules, regulations and procedure at the ports causing delays and increasing the transport cost to the disadvantage of the exporters, importers and traders.
Added to this is the threat on terrorism and other surety-related concerns that dampen the trade and business in the BIMP-EAGA.
Thus, in recognition of the importance of the city in the realization of the region’s vision of becoming a major trans-shipment hub in the country and its strategic role in contributing to the BIMP-EAGA’s objectives, this MOU will strengthen the commitment from among the heads of offices in performing their roles and responsibilities as members of the committee, working to contribute to its over-all objectives.
Among the activities of the CIQS-CCPCDO is the establishment of a One-Stop-Action Center that will facilitate the processing of export/import-related documents and cater to the needs of other clients and the conduct of Problem Solving Sessions to discuss varied CIQS issues and concerns
Its areas of coverage are the Cagayan de Oro Airport, Laguindingan International Airport, Cagayan de Oro Sea Port and the Mindanao Container Terminal, all in Misamis Oriental.
Meanwhile, its composition includes the following: Bureau of Customs, Bureau of
Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Animal Industry, Veterinary Quarantine Services, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Services and Bureau of Plant Industry- Plant Quarantine Services of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Air Transportation Office (ATO), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office, PNP-Airport Security Group, PNP-Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Philippine Coast Guard Northern Mindanao District (PCGNMD).
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Medco and Neda.
Local government units of CDO and the Province of Misamis Oriental, Phividec Industrial Authority (PIA), CDO Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc.(ORO Chamber) Philippine Exporters Association of Northern Mindanao (Philexport) and the Northern Mindanao Shippers Asso., Inc. (Norminsa). < b>(Trends)
