ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Mindanao Federation of Shippers’ Association (MINFESA) presented to the government a proposal that would connect via sea lanes Northern and Southern Mindanao which is aimed to propel socio-economic development and activities in the region.

The proposal was presented to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) and other government agencies during the first Mindanao Logistics Conference held from November 25 to 26 in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental with the theme “Southern-Northern Mindanao Logistics Corridor: Key to Fast Track its Economic Development.”

“We would like to sell the idea of an integrated logistics highway or corridor, one that would connect Northern and Southern Mindanao, two big economic centers in the region, that will propel Mindanao’s socio-economic development,” said MINFESA president Vic Lagdamen.

According to Lagdamen, the “expressway” would not necessarily be passing through the current national highway, as long as it will “facilitate for a faster movement of goods and people.”

A similar view and opinion was also aired by the Mindanao logistics and infrastructure industry players who attended the Mindanao Logistic Conference.

Some 200-strong delegation of shippers, shipping lines, cargo forwarders, service providers including international officials of foreign shipping industries and representatives from private sector and government agencies attended the two-day conference.

While the Northern Mindanao link is being pushed as a main corridor, he said the proposed integrated logistics and transportation plan should also include the Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga Region and other areas in Mindanao.

Mindanao is yet to have an integrated logistic infrastructure and transportation plan, he said.

Adding that with these plans, it will eventually help boost the economy of Mindanao, where he noted that some major infrastructures were recently built like the Mindanao Container Terminal, along with the expansion of seaports and airports, and improvement of national roads.

“The shift to logistic infrastructures should be a more comprehensive approach in tackling the overall logistic needs of Mindanao,” Lagdamen said.

The port director of the Muara Port in Brunei Darussalam was one of the conference speakers giving emphasis to port and infrastructure development in this part of the country.