Indonesia and World Tourism News

Mayor Alex B. Wangkay of Jose Abad Santos town in Davao del Sur said the local government unit has asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to finance the project in line with efforts to spur economic development along with two other towns in Mindanao.

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Jose Abad Santos is part of the Jags-CT economic grouping. It stands for Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle.

Sarangani town is also part of Davao del Sur, while the municipality of Glan is under the province of Sarangani.

Jags-CT was formed in 2003 in support to the initiatives of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines - East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga). The economic triangle aims to increase trade, tourism and investments by enhancing cross-border linkages with the northern Sulawesi province of Indonesia.

“We want it [proposed sea port] to be part of the Roro (roll-on, roll-off) nautical highway that would serve the routes up to Sulawesi in Indonesia,” said the singer-turned politician popularly known as Zander Khan.

In October 2006, the local economic cluster embarked on a historic voyage from the port of Glan to Bitung in Indonesia, bringing 170 metric tons of various goods such as activated carbon, papaya soaps and mangoes, among others.

However, it was not sustained due to the absence of regular shipping firms plying the route.

Transportation Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza was reported to have expressed his agency’s interest to finance the construction of the proposed seaport. It will be located in the village of Balangunan.

Wangkay said the port project would augur well for trade exchanges between the three localities and the northern portion of Indonesia, which is about 30 hours apart on a regular sea travel.

Glan Mayor Enrique B. Yap Jr., Jags-CT chair, said they are firming up the economic triangle’s potentials by developing vital road networks, ports and a 25-hectare economic zone, to lure investors.

In Glan, he said the local government unit has approved a 25-hectare economic zone and that in Sarangani town, a P43 million seaport complex has been completed.

Undersecretary Virgilio L. Leyretana, chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, cited officials of the three towns for their efforts in helping accelerate the attainment of economic developments of depressed areas not only in the Philippines but in nearby northern Indonesia as well.

He added that better relations between the two countries should be maintained to facilitate trade and commerce.

Yap said: “Jags-CT can prove to other municipalities and countries that smaller growth areas can develop if they just only cooperate with each other.”