THE municipality of Maco is seen as a future key player in the logistics industry of the province of Davao de Oro, said senior trade industry development specialist Rochelle Nunez from the Department of Trade and Industry in Davao de Oro.

“Kung atong tanawon, naa ta coastal area na pwede maging open, for example ang Maco (We have a coastal area, particularly along coast of Maco, that we could open). Diha gyod preferably ang atong logisitcs area (That is the preferred logistics area),” Nunez said during the One Davao virtual presser on Monday, October 15.

She said port areas are preferred for logistics such as warehouses and storage facilities since these are points of entry for trade. However, Nunez said Davao de Oro’s logistics and transportation sector is still weak.

“Mao na atong gipaningkamutan karon na naa mag locate diri (That’s what we are working on right now)... Katong naa ta’y place of storing our goods and warehouses (To have warehouses and a place for storing goods) that would connect to big logistics companies... That’s our challenge because we are an agri-based province,” she said.

Although the province has few trucking companies operating, warehouses, cold storage facilities are lacking.

Nunez said key players in the logistics industry are needed since Davao de Oro is an agri-based province.

According to Christine Dompor, Provincial Tourism and Investment Promotion Officer

Davao de Oro, the preferred area in Maco is approximately more than 100 hectares, including the coastal area and its eastern line vicinity.

“Maco is part of Metro Davao so we are looking for more growth centers dira dapit (in that area)... Ang pwede nato i-transport kay mga (What we can transport are) bananas, coconut, fruits, and a lot more,” Dompor said.

Currently, Dompor said a port site is already identified in Maco but major facilities are not yet developed.

If the port of Maco is established, the municipality could be an alternative logistic and investment destination. Nunez said it could also be submitted as a special economic zone by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

“With the increasing traffic, it can lessen the burden sa mga dalan kung mag abri ta dira sa port of Maco (in our roads if ever we develop the port of Maco),” Dompor said. ICM