ILOILO – The Iloilo Commercial Port Complex in Barangay Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City opened internationally through the recent maiden voyage of an international container line based in Thailand and Singapore.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. welcomed this as a milestone for both the city and province of Iloilo.
“We are happy but the challenge is buruligan ta na and mas maayo kon may masulod kita pabalik,” Defensor said.
He hoped that the voyage would become like the wing vans from Mindoro going to Iloilo City, which bring in onions and, as they return to Mindoro, bring back sugar or other agricultural products such as watermelon.
The governor wanted business and agriculture to improve circulation in and out of Iloilo.
This goal is aligned with the development trust of the provincial government on maximizing agricultural production since Iloilo is known as an agricultural province and creating a value-added chain for these products would generate jobs and improve business.
“That is why kita diri, with what we have right now, not just talking about five years from now, we should also develop our industry. Amo na siling naton, what is our thrust? Given what we have, we should develop a value chain in our agricultural products to create more products and variety,” Defensor said.
He added that since an international container line exists, why not take this opportunity.
“Indi na sila magkadto diri kon wala sang unod, happy kita nga nag-abot na ang barko, buot silingon may sulod na ina sia pabalik because it’s not good business for them to come here without something to put inside the ship for the return trip,” Defensor added.
The governor said among the region’s export products are corn, sugar and rice which are not “heavy industry” exports. The main economic drivers in the region, especially Iloilo, are its service industry and business process outsourcing.
There is a food product manufacturing plant in Pavia town but it cannot ship internationally.
“Waay kita sa level nga… we are transporting computer hardware, although it is not in our immediate future, but again, mas maayo gid kon makakarga kita dira produkto nga halin sa agriculture because that is the direction of the province, to create a value chain in our agricultural products so that we can generate business and employment in our agri-tourism industry,” the governor added.
Defensor said most Ilonggos are dependent on agriculture, and if agricultural products are developed for international trade, this could provide livelihood to many./PN
