LOCAL airlines are starting to revisit their plan of reviving Davao-Manado, Indonesia air routes once the Davao-General Santos-Bitung Roro Shipping Service kicks off.
“The launching of the Davao-Gensan-Bitung sea link via Roro is also later on a major signal to attract airline operators to follow soon. Because there is now economic activity set to take place with the exchange of commodities and cargos, we would expect an ensuing movement also of people and some cargos that would be much viable via air,” said Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, Deputy Executive Director of Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), at the sidelines of the 1st Davao-Gensan-Bitung Business Forum held at a mall in Davao City on February 24, 2016.
Around the late 90s to early 2000s, a Davao-Manado air route was operational under an Indonesian airline but did not last long as demand was low to sustain its operations.
“The situation is very much different 15 years ago than today. There are definitely a number of economic activities happening. There are a number of Filipino investments already in Manado,” said Montenegro.
The possible revival of Davao-Manado air route will also be beneficial for the locals of Manado as the city have a very high quality of medical services and yet it would cost them less if they travel Manado to Davao than Manado to Indonesia. The trip would only take about an hour and 15 minutes.
Socio-cultural Pillar
Montenegro also said that with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Integration, there are more demands, not just only for commodities but also for services and professions.
He added they are also looking forward to more professions being exchanged most especially in line with tourism.
“This is also very much strategic considering that we are looking at the Bimp-Eaga, a proposal to pilot the implement the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA). The cluster on socio-cultural education is looking at proposing the piloting particularly of the tourism professions,” said Montenegro. He added “harmonization of standards” will also take place which means that a certification standard in the Philippines can already be used and also valid in other Asean countries.
During the early 2000s they were socio-cultural exchanges being done between the people of Manado and Davao. Internships for college students in Manado were done in Davao and vice versa. Government employees from Manado used to take their master courses at the Ateneo de Davao University.
MOA Signing
During the 1st Davao-Gensan-Bitung Business Forum, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., General Santos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Asian Marine Transport Corporation, North Minahasa Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mindanao Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation, and United States Agency for International Development entered a memorandum of agreement for the operation of the trade sea route.
The ports of Davao City, General Santos City, and Bitung are expected to be ready for a dry run on March 28, a month before the official launching on April 30.