DAVAO CITY — An Indonesian-flagged boat, the Gloria 28, with capacity of 256 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), has started plying the Davao-Manado route as an alternative to the Davao-General Santos-Bitung service that has been put on hold for lack of demand.
The Davao-GenSan-Bitung roll on-roll off (RoRo) service, launched on April 30 this year with President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo leading the ceremony, used the 500-TEU M/V Super Shuttle RORO 12 of Philippine company Asian Marine Transport Corp.
“Since (Super Shuttle RORO 12) was facing difficulties, we looked for an alternative, which is a smaller vessel and this vessel has sailed. We put a lot of effort to launch this smaller RoRo,” Indonesian Consul General Berlian Napitupulu told the media in a forum on Nov. 22.
The Gloria 28 started on the Manado-Davao route in October, and is scheduled to make a second trip before the end of November.
Mr. Napitupulu, who is based in Davao City, said that there has been enough cargo both ways and he and Philippine partners are working to expand the variety of goods that can be traded.
“For instance they bring Christmas decorations (from Davao) to Manado because most of the people of Manado are Christians and they celebrate Christmas,” he said.
On the other hand, products that were shipped in from Manado include agricultural goods, plywood, and soft drinks.
“This is small, but it has started. Better than to have a big launch that makes no economic sense,” Mr. Napitupulu said.
“If any two kinds of Indonesian food and beverage come to Mindanao, I am happy. To bring two products is not easy,” he added.
Part of the campaign for trade expansion is the holding of the first Indonesia Fashion Expo on Nov. 24 to 26 at the activity center of Abreeza Mall, where 24 Indonesian companies are expected to participate.
Mr. Napitupulu said among the exhibitors are wholesale and retail firms involved in textile, garments, shoes, bags, leather products and accessories.
The event will also feature one-on-one business matching meetings, and tourism promotion activities.— Maya M. Padillo
