Central Visayas has emerged as the fastest-growing region in the Philippines’ logistics sector, recording a 23% growth rate in 2024, surpassing the national average of 13%. This development underscores the region’s pivotal role in the country’s trade and transportation landscape.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco highlighted the significance of this growth during the Visayas Shipping Conference 2025 held in Cebu City. She noted that the transport and logistics sector’s expansion is interconnected with various industries, including construction, tourism, accommodation, and health. Pacheco emphasized that such growth presents substantial business opportunities, reflecting the sector’s critical contribution to the broader economy.
Cebu’s strategic position as the shipping hub of the Visayas has been instrumental in this growth. The province’s ports, along with air cargo facilities and an extensive logistics network, facilitate connections between Luzon, Mindanao, and international markets. Marivic Aguilar, DTI Cebu’s officer-in-charge provincial director, encouraged logistics providers to invest in digital transformation and cost-efficient operations to maintain and enhance efficiency within the sector.
The region’s economic performance has been robust, with Central Visayas achieving a 7.3% growth in gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2023, the highest among the country’s 17 regions. This growth elevated the region’s GRDP to approximately PHP1.38 trillion. The services sector, encompassing transportation and storage, was a significant contributor, accounting for 70% of the GRDP.
In line with these developments, infrastructure projects are underway to bolster the region’s logistics capabilities further. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) have initiated the construction of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP). This project aims to alleviate congestion at the existing Cebu Base Port, enhance cargo handling efficiency, and position Cebu as a key regional logistics hub. Funded through official development assistance from the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the NCICP is slated for completion by the second quarter of 2028.
The combined efforts of the public and private sectors in Central Visayas reflect a concerted push to strengthen the logistics infrastructure, thereby supporting sustained economic growth and reinforcing the region’s status as a critical nexus in both domestic and international trade networks.
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