Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has inaugurated Davao International Container Terminal, which recently completed its P5-billion expansion program.
The expansion increases the container terminal’s handling capacity from 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 800,000 TEUs.
“From two quay cranes, we now have four quay cranes, eight RTG (rubber-tired gantry) cranes and other various container-handling equipment,” said Anflo Management and Investment Corp. (ANFLOCOR) president and CEO Alex Valoria.
DICT is a joint venture between ANFLOCOR and Dole-Stanfilco, the leading producers and exporters of fresh Cavendish bananas in the Philippines.
The container port has an area of 11 hectares, backed 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.
Nine shipping lines call DICT: American President Lines, Maersk MCC, CMA CGM, Wan Hai Shipping Lines, Advance Container Lines, Regional Container Lines, Pacific International Lines, Mariana Express Lines and Cosco Shipping Lines.
Negotiations are ongoing for additional shipping lines to call DICT soon.
Formerly known as San Vicente Terminal and Brokerage Services, Inc., DICT has a long history in port operations, servicing the stevedoring and arrastre requirements of break bulk shipments of fresh produce like bananas and pineapples at the Tadeco wharf.
Located in Panabo City, DICT is the anchor project of an 88-hectare mixed-use agricultural and industrial complex being developed by ANFLOCOR to provide for the logistical requirements of various businesses seen to grow in Mindanao.
The Philippine economy is expected to grow between 6.5% and 7.5% this year, a rate of growth likely to continue into the medium term, DICT said. The new Duterte administration offers a 10-point socio-economic program intending to sustain both economic expansion and distribute wealth more evenly, it added. A major component of the economic program is increased spending on infrastructure. The completion of the DICT project is seen to help improve the logistics backbone of Mindanao’s economy as well as create jobs in areas less progressive.