Improved shipping sector vital to Cebu's economy

CEBU, Philippines - An improved shipping industry is vital for Cebu to sustain its economic growth through better ports and road infrastructure.

Speaking at the recent Visayas Shipping Conference here, Dante Araneta, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry's logistics committee co-chair, said Cebu plays a vital role in the movement of goods and people as 80 percent of domestic shipping lines in the country is based in Cebu.

 "Cebu International Port is the second busiest international seaport outside of Manila. It is for this reason that Cebu has to continuously improve its shipping industry to sustain its economic growth," said Araneta.

 He said the new international container port is needed to ease port congestion, accommodate the growing cargo traffic, propel industrial development with improved cargo-handling capacity and stimulate maritime trade and commerce.

 "A strong economic growth that heightened economic activities and movement of people underlines the need to call the government for better ports and road infrastructures," the chamber official said.

 "We also need a good network of roads and ports that links production areas to consumer markets because distance drives up transport and distribution costs," he further said.

 Araneta also said Cebu needs more efficient transport and logistics system to better serve the international market and raise the country's competitiveness.

 "We should drive for a more global competitive Cebu, particularly in terms of infrastructures, to inspire and energize our transportation and logistics industries," he added.

 Currently, according to the World Bank, the Philippines ranked 57th out of 160 countries in the Logistics Performance Index which measures the weighed average across six key logistics dimensions (customs, infrastructure, international shipment, logistics quality, tracking and timeliness) obtained through structured online survey of logistics professionals. (FREEMAN)