Cargo company offers international import/export services to Ilongos-PPA

Iloilo City- An international cargo company is offering import and export services to the Ilongos, according to the Philippine Ports Authority-Iloilo (PPA).

According to PPA Iloilo Port Manager Marcelo Mabilog, the unnamed international shipping company is expected to make its port of call in either the second or third week of July.

Mabilog said this during the quarterly meeting of the Regional SMED Council held at the DTI Office in Iloilo on June 23.

“If these become successful, this will make Iloilo the third international export hub in the country. Currently, the two active export hubs are Cebu and Manila,” he said, adding that he hopes that Ilongos will take advantage of this offer from the undisclosed shipping company.

The cargo vessel making the port call to Iloilo is coming from Singapore, bringing with it tons of containerized cargo to be delivered all over the country.

“We in Western Visayas, especially those coming from Iloilo and Negros, have tons of cargo being exported and imported. This makes Iloilo a strategic hub. What is certain is that the value of several exported products, such as appliances, will become cheaper because of direct transport,” he added.

As this develops, the Bureau of Customs and other related national government agencies are preparing for the said maiden call.