By Emmie V. Abadilla
The Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), formerly known as Mindanao International Container Terminal Services Inc. (MICTSI), ) announced om Monday it was upgrading its port terminal to become a premier international gateway in Mindanao but has not disclosed the project cost.
Already, MCT has upgraded its terminal operating system and introduced a more customer-centric approach to improve customer services.
“Our ongoing modernization and changes in our current practices will propel us to become the leading port in Mindanao," according to the MCT management.
"We aim to help spur economic growth in the countryside, especially now that Northern Mindanao, through the Misamis Oriental economic zone, is poised to become a prime investment hub in the region.”
The port is modernizing its equipment at present and has installed new reach stackers, terminal tractors and trailers.
The initiative will be completed this year and in the middle of 2020.
“We’ve ordered additional equipment as part of our upgrades early this year as we expect more volume in shipments," the MCT management elaborated.
"Now that more investments are coming into the Misamis Oriental economic zone, we have to be ready to accommodate the surge in demand."
The Phividec Industrial Authority (PIA), the government agency that manages, supervises, and administers the Misamis Oriental Economic Zone where MCT is located, confirmed that companies are already putting up businesses in the area and new investments are flowing in.
MCT expects to tap this market soon.
Currently, MCT accepts both international and domestic shipments offering container handling services, yard management, reefer monitoring services, and water bunkering, among others.
The port terminal also plans to be a trans-shipment hub connecting Northern Mindanao to Visayas and other parts of the country, ensuring that the business community in CDO has access to the rest of the country through MCT.
“We continue to develop new products, distinct offerings and grow our trans-shipment business to help home-grown businesses in CDO and Mindanao expand their reach. With the ongoing modernization, MCT is set to become the first port of call for international vessels in Mindanao,” MCT stressed.
Established in May 2008, Mindanao Container Terminal is a wholly owned subsidiary of global port management company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).
MCT develops, manages, and operates the port terminal located at MCT Complex, PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
It provides full terminal operations for ships, container yards as well as hazardous cargo handling including container/cargo documentation processing.