THE newly-inaugurated P5 billion expanded Davao International Container Terminal, Inc. (DICT) in Panabo City has transformed Davao Region as the industry leader in port logistics in Mindanao.
DICT is the anchor project of an agricultural and industrial complex being developed by the Anflo Management and Investment Corp. (Anflocor) providing logistical requirements of various businesses which are seen to grow dramatically amid projected economic growth in Mindanao.
This, as cargoes are being shipped via refrigerated containers.
The expansion of the DICT increases its handling capacity from the current 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units to 800,000 TEUs.
Alex Valoria, president and CEO of the Antonio Floirendo Group of Companies said, "from two quay cranes, we now have four quay cranes, eight RTG (Rubber Tired Gantry) cranes and other various container handling equipment."
The expanded DICT is "offering world-class container terminal facilities and services in this heavily agricultural island region in the Philippines, the DICT helps ensure the global competitiveness of Mindanao's export-grade products."
In a press statement, the container port has an area of 11 hectares, backed up by a 15-hectare container yard. It is adjacent to a 70-hectare export-processing zone, whose locators will enjoy the benefits of duty-free importation of equipment and raw materials and income tax holiday.
At present, a total of nine shipping lines are calling on the DICT, they are the American President Lines (APL), Maersk MCC, CMA CGM, Wan Hai Shipping Lines, Advance Container Lines (ACL), Regional Container Lines (RCL), Pacific International Lines (PIL), Mariana Express Lines and Cosco Shipping Lines.
Also, negotiations are ongoing for additional shipping lines, which are due to call on the DICT soon.
The DICT is complemented by a 70-hectare export processing zone and an 88-hectare mixed-use township in Panabo, which is a component city in the province of Davao del Norte.
The city is also part of the Davao Metropolitan Area, the biggest metropolis, in terms of land area in the Philippines.
During the inauguration, President Rodrigo Duterte led the ceremony last Friday, September 2, 2016 along with businessman and Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative-elect Antonio Tonyboy Floirendo Jr. and other Anflocor officials and families.
DICT, a modern container port, is a joint venture between ANFLOCOR and Dole-Stanfilco, the leading producers and exporters of fresh Cavendish bananas in the Philippines.
"Thank you Anflo for giving back the profits to the society, thank you for providing and generating jobs and opportunities, but most of all congratulations to this latest milestone to the company," President Duterte said.
He also described the Floirendo as a visionary man.
The Floirendos turned Panabo into an agro-industrial city and is now known as the "Banana Capital of the Philippines" due to numerous banana plantations scattered throughout the city.
Tadeco, which covers around 7,500 hectares of banana plantations in Panabo, annually produces and exports millions of boxes of Cavendish bananas, which is the main economic driver of the city.
Tadeco is still growing as it ventures into other areas outside of Panabo.