Saturday, June 02, 2007 6th Mindanao shipping confab slated in Davao By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE 6th Mindanao Shipping Conference, hosted by the Mindanao Federation of Shippers Association, Inc. (Minfesa), is set to be held in Davao City on June 21 and 22.
The two-day conference will take place at Grand Regal Hotel.
Minfesa had hosted five shippers conferences in key cities in Mindanao in a bid to hasten improvement of ports and shipping services in the island.
The USAid-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program has been Minfesa's partner in advocating concerns of the Mindanao shippers.
With the theme: "Efficient Shipping and Transportation for Global Competitiveness", this year's conference is expecting some 150 delegates from shipping companies, forwarders, trucking firms, and government agencies.
The agenda to be discussed in the conference include Minfesa's representation in the National Port Advisory Council (NPAC) and membership of local shippers associations in the Port Management and Advisory Council (PMAC) in each port; establishment of competitive cargo handling tariff rates in all ports by increasing competition in cargo handling contracts; and the conduct of competitive bidding in the selection of cargo handling operators.
It also aims for port modernization and improvement in port facilities including construction of wharf extension, passenger terminals, weighing bridges, and gantry cranes.
