M/V Super Shuttle Arrives in Bitung Port from Kudos Port, Davao City
08 May 2017 DAVAO CITY — On April 30, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, together with the key officials from the government of the Philippines and Indonesia, and businessmen witnessed the launching of the Roll-On/ Roll-Off (RoRo) Davao-General Santos-Bitung shipping Service at the Kudos Port in Sasa, Davao City. The bilateral tourism cooperation was initiated during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012 in Manado, North Sulawesi.
President Widodo expressed his gratitude to President Duterte and shared his hopes regarding the project emphasizing his extraordinary commitment in realizing this shipping route and to all the people both in Indonesia and the Philippines who have worked so hard to make this shipping route possible. President Duterte conveyed his hopes that this project will connect not only the Philippines and Indonesia but the rest of ASEAN.
This connectivity will definitely reaffirm the commitment of Indonesia and the Philippines to build closer cooperation to enhance its tourism and economic opportunities as it is expected to spur business and commerce between North Sulawesi and southern Mindanao, open numerous opportunities for increasing people-to-people contact and exchange, and boost the economic development as well raise the quality of life in the two regions of southern Mindanao and Eastern Indonesia, particularly North Sulawesi.
On May 02, the Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) ferry, the M/V Super Shuttle Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) 12 with a vessel capacity of 500 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) arrived in Bitung Port witnessed by Department of Transportation (DoTr) Undersecretary Felipe A. Judan, Assistant Secretary Fernando Juan Perez, and Director Caroline Lourdes Mangalili, and staff from the Philippine Consulate General in Manado.
Hon. Max Lomban, Mayor of Bitung City, conveyed in his speech that he is very proud with the opening of the RoRo Davao-General Santos-Bitung which will strengthen the development in the area specifically in raising the business opportunities in Bitung City and highlighted the tourism (i.e. beaches, underwater activity, and forest preservations) and fishing industry opportunities in the area.
He also took the opportunity to mention that their legislators will make a recommendation to the national government to lift all the policy that delays the growth of their economy.
Undersecretary Felipe Judan noted that this project will surely deepen the relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia as the RoRo will enhance the trade relationship in the areas. He further highlighted that the RoRo will cut off time and cost of the delivery of goods and will open up tourism and human resources opportunities between Mindanao and North Sulawesi area, including the coastal areas.
Usec. Judan expressed his desire that in the future there will also be passenger ship sailing in Davao and in Bitung noting the fact that Indonesia and Philippines are closest neighbors and can increase potential in exchanging goods and services.
Hon. Olly Dondokambey, Governor of North Sulawesi stressed that PH and Indonesia are neighbors and RoRo will bring both countries closer with increasing potentials in trade. He thanked all the parties who remained steadfast in their commitment on making this project successful.
About 200 individuals witnessed the welcoming ceremony attended by 32 Indonesian offices.
For more information, visit www.manadopcg.dfa.gov.ph. END
