In Malasiqui, Pangasinan, it was reported that the Port of San Fernando in La Union is generating between PHP600 million and PHP800 million each month. This revenue primarily comes from the bulk shipments of essential commodities such as rice, fertilizer, fuel, and coal, as stated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC). District Collector Segundo Sigmunfreud Barte Jr. highlighted that 75% of the port’s earnings are derived from rice, coal, and liquefied petroleum gas, with the remaining 25% coming from fuel.
Barte expressed ambitions to elevate the port’s monthly revenue to PHP1 billion by increasing the handling of containerized goods. Following a stakeholders’ meeting last year, the port has been actively inviting importers and exporters to utilize its facilities for containerized cargo. Barte noted that the port could efficiently handle goods like cellphones and food, with the advantage of reducing shipping times to just three to four days, compared to the 15 days required at the Port of Manila.
He emphasized the potential for developing logistics at San Fernando, which is less congested than other ports. This development could streamline the process of moving goods to and from Manila. Barte called on local leaders to develop a regional logistics framework that would attract trade with nearby countries like China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
Such initiatives, according to Barte, would not only increase regional revenue but also reduce the cost of goods, stimulate the trucking industry, and enhance manufacturing, thereby creating job opportunities for local residents.