By Anthony S. Allada
The P2.7-billion Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte will be operational early next year and is expected to improve the economy of the entire region.
Mayor Jose Silvosa said the soon to be completed DICT will be the biggest commercial port in Mindanao so far, adding that the national and local governments will benefit greatly from its operations.
The city is part of the so-called banana country (Davao del Norte) whose major product (banana) will be shipped out of the new port.
“Products from other places like Valencia in Bukidnon and Talaingod in Davao del Norte will be shipped through our new container terminal,” Silvosa said.
The Anflocor Group of Companies owned by the Floirendo family will manage and operate the DICT, the first of its kind in the entire Mindanao that can cater to bigger ships like the Panamax. A single Panamax can carry at least four giant passenger-type vessels.p>“The project will definitely support the growth of the export and import sector and the economy of the entire region as a whole.
“This is a milestone to mark the beginning of a new age for international trade in Mindanao,” Anflocor president Alex Valoria said.
The entire facility can serve up to 300 container vans using a state-of-the-art terminal operating system (TOS) which will ensure faster vessel turn-around time, he added.
It will be the first container terminal to introduce new innovations in this part of the country, including the availability of plug-in facilities inside the container yard to hasten loading and unload of goods, especially perishable products for faster transport.
The DICT broke ground in May this year. ASA
