The plan of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to turn the Port of Davao into a new logistics and investment hub in Southeast Asia is moving closer to reality after the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has approved the creation of a technical working group.
Port of Davao District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria said the Technical Working Group (TWG) will conduct a thorough study and recommendation that would put in place al the necessary requirements to achieve the goal.
Austria presented the plan to the NEDA- Economic Development Committee (EDC) XI on Dec. 9 where he discussed its accomplishments, especially in digitalizing customs services.
"The BOC-Port of Davao aims to get support and technical assistance from different concerned agencies in realizing the plan," said Austria.
"The Port also intends to strengthen the business environment of the Davao Region and improve its economic performance," he added.
The EDC reviewed the Draft Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023-2028 to improve its strategy framework towards revitalizing different industries and lessening the region's poverty rate.
At the end of the session, the EDC recommended the BOC Davao be a part of their work.
The BOC Davao also plans to adopt the same project in Region XII and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ports.
The goal of turning the Port of Davao into a logistics and investment hub in Southeast Asia is part of the Davao Gulf Development Plan (DGDP) of 2013 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” and outlines how agencies can work together to maximize the country’s economic plan.