Visayas region an emerging logistics, trade hub in PH

CEBU CITY – Over 150 shipping and logistics executives, manufacturers, importers and exporters, traders, and investors gathered in Cebu today, February 27 for the 4th Visayas Shipping Conference and Exhibit 2025 organized by PortCalls in partnership with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region VII carrying the theme “Visayas Trade Logistics: Navigating a Competitive Landscape.”

“The Visayas region is emerging as a leading logistics and trade hub in the Philippines driven by strategic infrastructure development and investment with key projects include ports, road networks, and economic zones, which have boosted job creation and attracted investors,” Emmanuel Cortero, Zone Administrator, Mactan Economic Zone said in his keynote address at the conference.

Strategies to enhance supply chain efficiency include collaboration with ports, logistics agencies, and the creation of embedded ports and container yards. The goal is to position the Visayas as a premier logistics hub and strengthen the Philippines' global logistics network, Cortero added.

He said that the government has been working closely with ports and logistics agencies to ensure the seamless movement of goods, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance efficiency, proposed for the creation of an off-dock container yard in economic zones for more effective container exchange and the establishment of container freight stations.

It also promotes the development of embedded ports and logistics parks within economic zones to cater to the logistics needs of locators and lower the cost of doing business, leveraging the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) economic corridor and promote the development of the eastern seaboard and Bicol facing the Pacific Ocean to accelerate countryside development in the Visayas.

Economic Growth and Infrastructure Dev’t in the Visayas Region

The Visayas region continues to collaborate with government agencies and the private sector to optimize supply chain management and increase efficiency in logistics, Cortero bared that the Visayas region has overcome past challenges in infrastructure connectivity and investment flow, now serving as a thriving gateway for commerce.

The region has overcome past challenges in infrastructure connectivity and investment flow, now serving as a thriving gateway for commerce.  Major infrastructure projects, including ports, road networks, and economic zones, have played a crucial role in enhancing logistical capacities and attracting investors.  These developments align with the Marcos Junior administration's "Build Better More" initiative, focusing on enhancing the logistics and supply chain of the country, he bared.

“The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) aims to attract global investors in strategic sectors like transport, infrastructure, and public services, with a vision to develop key industries such as railways, shipping, toll roads, and transport networks,” Cotero added.

The Visayas region hosts 85 Economic Zones with over 700 locators, creating above 250,000 direct jobs for Filipinos.  In 2024, PEZA achieved a 22 percent increase in investment approvals, with P214B from 255 new and expansion projects, including 33 projects in the Visayas region.

Strategies to enhance supply chain, logistics efficiency and innovations

Cortero added that PEZA is committed to fostering an ecosystem that prioritizes innovation, efficiency, and sustainability to attract investors worldwide as it collaborates with ports and logistics agencies to ensure seamless movement of goods and reduce bottlenecks.

There are proposals to create an off-port container yard and container freight stations within economic zones for more effective container exchange. The PEZA Manila terminal, the first in the country inside an economic zone, will help decongest Manila ports and transport cargo to other regions.

“Embedded ports in economic zones will cater exclusively to the logistics needs of locators, reducing business costs and optimizing supply chain management,” Cortero said.

The Sun Economic Corridor is seen as a strategically significant hub for commerce, industry, and logistics, driving economic growth and regional development and eastern seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean is being promoted to accelerate countryside development in Visayas and the Bicol region.

Coping alternative gateways like major ports facing the Pacific will reduce congestion in existing ports and offer shorter routes to key markets.  New highways and rehabilitated railways are being developed to ensure unimpeded flow of goods and higher cargo carry capacity.

A whole-of-government approach is being adopted to address infrastructure needs through multi-industry infrastructure convergence. Government commitments include upgrading seaports to handle both container and bulk cargos, and establishing more regional air and seaports of international standards.

Efforts are also being made to improve operations and ease of doing business, expanding collaboration with government agencies and the private sector and these initiatives aim to optimize supply chain management, increase logistics efficiency, and support the entry of investments into the country.

PEZA emphasizes the importance of collaboration with international best practices to solidify the Visayas' position in the global logistics network. Adopting a forward-thinking approach and fostering innovation are crucial to enhancing trade efficiency and creating job opportunities.

“The goal is to establish the Visayas as a premier logistics hub and position the Philippines as a key player in the global logistics and maritime industry.  By working together, the region can propel the Visayas and the entire country towards a more dynamic and resilient logistics sector,” Cortero concluded. (Photos: MBCNewman)