The Department of Agriculture (DA) has endorsed the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) as a discharge port for containers of imported livestock and raw materials.
In a statement sent by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) to members of the media, the company said the endorsement “highlights the terminal’s role in ensuring unimpeded trade for the livestock and feed milling industries.”
The endorsement is also seen to encourage importers to use the port to ensure that feeds are readily available to farmers, which may lower market prices of meat products in Manila and nearby provinces.
“Given the initiatives of the current administration to support affordable and accessible food for the Filipino people, industry players should be able to tap services which are competitive and will provide access where Filipino consumers demand products,” the statement, quoting a DA letter, read.
It added that the strategic location of SBITC will help curb delays in transporting cargo in Luzon, especially during peak season.
Roberto R. Locsin, SBITC president and general manager, said the group is “making conscious efforts to make transactions more seamless and beneficial for industry end users, which help reduce livestock production costs and ease the burden on consumers.”
“SBITC is a strategic hub connecting the greater Manila and Central Luzon, the center of the country’s agriculture trade. Compared to other ports, we offer lower port fees and up to 10 days of free storage for our partners. This helps businesses and suppliers arrange for transport and delivery to their intended destination without the burden of extra cost, making us the ideal port of choice,” he said.
Locsin said travel between Subic and Manila is expected to improve given the new infrastructure projects in the pipeline. “Additionally, trucks can freely move to and from Subic to facilities north of Metro Manila, contributing to faster movement of goods and supplies during critical months,” he said.
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