Stakeholders from the Philippines and Indonesia met Thursday to discuss reviving the Davao-General Santos-Bitung (DGB) sea route.

The meeting, organized by the Indonesian Consulate in Davao City, focused on enhancing trade routes within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno expressed optimism for the initiative, citing support from the Marcos administration.

“This complements the goals of BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025, which seeks to enhance connectivity and trade,” he said in a message delivered by MinDA Deputy Executive Director Romeo Montenegro.

The initiative is based on a 2012 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which identified the DGB route as a cost-effective trade corridor.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed that year, but regulatory challenges in Indonesia delayed progress until 2014. The route’s maiden voyage took place three years later.

Challenges such as low cargo volume and vessel capacity have hindered the route’s viability.

Indonesian Consul General Agus Trenggono emphasized the need for actionable strategies.

“We aim to identify key policy interventions, increase cargo volume, and attract investments,” Trenggono said.

Magno said the DGB route has the potential to foster stronger economic ties.

Stakeholders are working to overcome barriers, including increasing cargo demand and optimizing vessel operations.

With Indonesia’s capital relocation to Nusantara, the renewed collaboration is expected to help the DGB shipping corridor reach its full potential. (PNA)