AFTER a period of some 12 years, an international cargo vessel loaded with 208 container vans from China has landed at the Macabalan Port in Cagayan de Oro, ushering an era of economic growth in Northern Mindanao.
In a statement, Bureau of Customs (BOC) port officials, along with officials from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the private arrastre operator, headed the welcoming party after the arrival of the MV AS Romina last March 14, 2022.
The vessel was loaded with assorted imported products like buttermilk, dry veneer, frozen products, truck parts, appliances, furniture along with others from various consignees in Northern Mindanao.
The welcomers include, Cagayan de Oro Deputy Collector for Operations Elizabeth Delas Llagas; Deputy Collector for Administration, Atty. Roswald Joseph Pague;
Oroport Cargo Handling Services officials led by its Vice President Lindsey Bernacer; Executive Secretary Bong Pelones; and, Port Services Division Manager Ruby Gumapon.
A walk-through was also done to check the readiness of the facility inside the Philippine Ports Authority which was witnessed by SP/Capt. Abdila Maulana Jr., District Commander, ESS-CDO; SP/Lt. Arkhan Macaombang, Deputy District Commander, ESS-CDO; and, CDO X-Ray Inspection Project Chief Ramsey Arado.
International shipping company, CMA-CGM Philippines, Inc. said they expect the port to initially receive 3 to 4 international containerized shipments in Cagayan de Oro every month.
However, with the inclusion of other shipping lines, the Port of Cagayan de Oro hopes the arrivals will increase to boost the revenue generation capability of the port, said district collector, Atty. Elvira Cruz.
It was only under the Duterte administration that the Macabalan Port has received significant attention that led to its complete rehabilitation to a port that meets international standards.
Shabu recipient, smuggled wildlife apprehended
At the Port of Clark, District Collector Alexandra Lumontad, in a report to Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, said they confiscated one kilo of shabu from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia worth some P6.9 million last March 15, 2022, hidden in a shipment of ‘dinosaur toys.’
The recipient, who is yet to be identified, was also arrested the next day in Caloocan City during a controlled delivery operation jointly conducted by the customs operatives and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Lumontad added.
The successful interdiction was the second to be recorded by the Port of Clark last week, with the confiscation of a separate shipment of some 962 grams of shabu worth some P6 million from South Africa last March 11, 2022 and hidden in a package of travel mugs.
Port of NAIA district collector, Atty. Carmelita ‘Mimel’ Talusan, for her part also reported to Guerrero the seizure of various exotic endangered species of animals from Thailand and for transhipment to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
On inventory, Talusan said the shipment consisted of 8 heads of Gecko Lizards, 40 Spiderlings and 5 Tarantulas consigned to a claimant in Parañaque City, before being transhipped to Dubai.
The parcel which was shipped from Krongsamwatawantok-Bangkok, Thailand was declared as “Commercial Sample” but found to contain 8 gecko Lizards concealed in transparent containers.
Another shipment bound for Dubai was also intercepted coming from a sender in Pasay City. The package was declared as Facial Skin Set/Quick Fix Mattefier but was found to contain 40 Spiderlings and 5 Tarantulas.
All have been turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Talusan added.