P129-M Polloc Port investment to boost Mindanao Economic Corridor

COTABATO CITY -- The recent registration by the Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) of the investment of Bangsamoro Terminal Services, Inc. (BTSI) amounting to P129 million, a company based in Polloc Freeport in Parang, Maguindanao is seen to boost the Mindanao Economic Corridors strategy for Mindanao economic development. This is because Polloc Port provides easy access for bulk cargo in Central Mindanao, particularly Maguindanao, the land-locked areas of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and the coastal municipalities of Lanao del Sur.Polloc Port is a key node in the South Central Mindanao Corridor under the Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA) Economic Development Corridors strategy for economic growth. The Mindanao Development Corridors is a spatial development strategy that aims to increase the competitiveness of Mindanao industries by providing them with common service facilities. The program also aims to achieve physical integration among key economic clusters in Mindanao in its bid to become self-reliant and internally dependable. The program will also prepare the island-region towards greater economic cooperation with the BIMP-EAGA and other member countries of ASEAN Economic Community.The history of BTSI shows the relevance of Polloc Port to the economic development of Central Mindanao because no less than former Philippine President, Fidel V. Ramos was part of its establishment. It was Ramos who foresaw the strategic importance of facilitating the development of a gateway port in Central Mindanao, such as Polloc Port. Accordingly, Ramos helped organized a port services operator for Polloc Port in which the BTSI is the successor company.Previously, the cargo handling company in Polloc Port was PTC Mindanao Port Services, Inc. (PTC-MPSI) established in 1979. At that time, the company operated at Polloc Port, Parang, Maguindanao then expanded its operations in Zamboanga City. PTC-MPSI rendered arrastre, stevedoring, other port related services and eventually entered into trucking business. The first Chairman of its Board of Directors was former Philippine President, Fidel V. Ramos. It was in 2014 that PTC-MPSI sold the company to Lamsan Holdings Corporation. In 2015, Lamsan took over the management after acquiring 100 percent of its shares of stocks including the Cargo Handling Contract with the Regional Ports Authority (RPA). In February 2016, with the approval of the Securities of Exchange Commission (SEC), the new management changed its name from PTC-MPSI to now BTSI.BTSI Manager Luigi Piccolo V. Peña said the company is serving major shipping lines. Among these are the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation formerly Sulpicio Lines and Lorenzo Shipping Corp., and also Minrico Lumber Enterprises for domestic trade. As for foreign trade, the company services Lamsan, Inc., Bonjourno Trading, Holcim Philippines, Inc. and Avigail Hardware. BTSI also provides trucking services to shippers utilizing the Polloc Freeport. At present, the company employs 232 workers.