Bilyonaryo Doris Magsaysay Ho, whose family owns leading shipping line Magsaysay Group of Companies, is urging the Marcos administration to create a network of “portropolis” to bring economies of scale.
During the 2022 Logistics Forum held by the Anti Red Tape Authority, Magsaysay-Ho proposed the establishment of industry clusters around ports to address trade imbalance and cut shipping and logistics costs in the country.
“While port operators, like International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), have invested heavily to modernize ports in Luzon for international operations, the government must do its part in ensuring that these shipping and cargo gateways are free of obstructions,” she said.
Magsaysay-Ho said it was important for the government to improve the performance of ports with “a whole-of-government approach,” working on solutions outside the port.”
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She said these facilities should not only be gateways but full logistics hubs with spaces for inland container depots, stripping, agricultural facilities, cold storage, inspection and certification of products to enable efficient distribution of goods for export and import.
“The roads, that are the arteries to and from the port must be free and clear of illegal business fees charged by the LGUs(local government units),” Maysaysay-Ho said.
By clearing the roads of all sources of congestion, she said movement of goods would be faster.
Magsaysay-Ho said shipping remains to be the most economical way to deliver cargo by volumes. Around 90 percent of all goods is transported via ships, she said.