The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the completion of the P4-billion Lagonglong Port in Misamis Oriental by March 2025 is expected to increase trade capacity in Mindanao and will enhance logistical capability in the region.
This in turn will create new jobs.
DA said the project is a private commercial port development of Amadi MGT Terminals Inc.
The agency said Amadi will spend P1.4 billion for the first phase which will have an annual throughput capacity of 3.3 million metric tons of bulk cargo.
The DA said the port will also have storage facilities and modern equipment to handle international and domestic cargo, including perishable goods.
“Lagonglong Port dovetails with the DA’s push to boost agricultural production, ensure accessibility to affordable food, and achieve food security for our countrymen,” said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a statement.
“We should build more ports like this. This is critical to the modernization of our country. This port, once finished, I believe will reduce feed costs by at least 2.5 percent or as much as 5 percent. It will reduce cost of fertilizers also by 5 percent, maybe, or as much as 10 percent, depending on the price,” Laurel added.
He added the port project will increase efficiency of transporting vital goods and provide storage facilities that will help maintain the quality of agricultural products and raw materials once finished.
Laurel said the facility will also spur the development of factories, processing plants and other value-adding facilities in the area.
Amid the development, Laurel said he also requested Amadi to provide the DA for space in the port where state-owned cold storage, ice stands and silos for other agricultural products can be put up.
