BUREAU of Customs (BOC)-Port of Davao District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria on Thursday received Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho and his first and second secretary at the BOC Davao Compound.
During their meeting, Austria highlighted the Port’s trade activities in its areas of responsibility, border security accomplishments, and its top import and export commodities from and to Singapore.
He also talked about his intention to transform the Port as an alternative center for trade in the ASEAN in line with the National Economic Development Authority Region XI (NEDA XI) proposed plan to update the Davao Gulf Development Plan (DGDP) of 2013.
The DGDP was conceptualized by Vice President Sara Duterte, former Davao City mayor and Regional Development Council chair.
The 2013 proposal seeks to advance the Davao Region as a “rising global frontier.” It outlines how agencies can work together to realize it under President Ferdinand
“Bongbong” Marcos’ 8-point economic plan.
The Singaporean diplomats visited the largest partner seaport facility in Panabo City, the Davao International Container Terminal Inc. (DICT), where port officials informed them of the DICT’s current and future expansion projects for better Port services for its clients and stakeholders.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, Austria will continue to collaborate with other agencies that focus on trade facilitation, which can help boost economic development in the Davao Region and improve its revenue collection performance.
