Presidents Duterte, Widodo launch east ASEAN RoRo service

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo launched Sunday the maiden voyage of M/V Super Shuttle RoRo 12 from Mindanao to North Sulawesi, Indonesia in a bid to further boost trade in the ASEAN region.The vessel sailed off for the Davao-GenSan-Bitung sea route with initial 50 containers, five of which are flour cargoes produced by Pilmico Foods Corp.President Duterte said the ferry service is part of the larger ASEAN RoRo Shipping Network, which will help ASEAN member-countries realize a collective goal of creating an integrated regional market. This will also complement the country’s own domestic infrastructure modernization program, he said before business and government delegations from both the Philippines and Indonesia at the launching of the new shipping routeDuterte noted the two countries have links since the pre-colonial times through active barter trading and free flow of people from both territories then.He said the bond between the Philippines and Indonesia is shaped by the vast seas that connect the two countries. During the past decades, we were further bound to strengthen our spirit of brotherhood with the forging of sister-city agreements that promote meaningful bonds of friendship among our peoples, he stressed.With the opening of the new maritime trade route, Duterte said this reaffirms the ties of both countries. He also stressed the importance of the new sea link to the aspirations of the larger ASEAN community.He said the opening of the ASEAN RoRo route between the Philippines and Indonesia was a commitment he forged with President Widodo during the ASEAN summit in September last year.This route shall be the first of the many routes that will form the international RoRo network envisioned by our fellow ASEAN leaders to provide greater accessibility and open more opportunities for our countries, he said.Duterte said the Davao-GenSan-Bitung route will not only connect the Philippines with the rest of ASEAN but, it will also physically integrate our respective archipelagos with the rest of the region. President Widodo said the opening of the Davao-GenSan-Bitung route is an important milestone, noting it stands as a symbol of friendship between the Filipino and Indonesian peoples. Widodo cited Duterte’s concern in bringing development to regions outside of the capital city of Manila. Widodo said it is also the same move he is taking to achieve balance in Indonesia, where most of the development is now concentrated in the island of Java near the capital Jakarta. I hope this RoRo service between Davao and Indonesia presents new opportunities and new businesses, Widodo said.Both leaders are optimistic that the new route will open new ports and new routes that will stimulate trade, tourism and other areas of development among ASEAN member-states.Meanwhile, Kim Pancho, manager of Super Shuttle Ferry, clarified that the maiden voyage will only service Davao to Bitung directly. The Davao-GenSan-Bitung route will start in the next voyage. Pancho said they lacked time to load containers because of launching preparations. Pancho said Super Ferry is owned by Asian Marine Transport Corporation with 500 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity.For the maiden voyage, Pancho said it carried 50 containers for positioning in Indonesia, adding it will transport goods once a week.On the next voyage, more traders are expected to participate, including RDL beauty products in General Santos City, he said. We have lots of companies (that are) committed to use the route, he told reporters in an interview.There is one company that booked 20 containers to ship fish nets made of rope, Pancho revealed. We have a good projection (to sustain the route) because this is a government-to-government agreement. There are many companies from both countries that are interested to join in, he said. (PNA)