Cargo shipments help keep local shipping sector afloat

CEBU, Philippines - Cargo shipments continue to support the growth of the local shipping industry especially in the Visayas area, an industry executive said.

Chester Cokaliong, founder, CEO and COO of Cebu-based Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., said that volume traffic of both passengers and cargoes has continuously registered good growth but it's the latter that's consistently supporting the shipping business.

Cokaliong noted that passenger traffic is seasonal.

"[The reason is] you have to ship out prime commodities to other provinces from Cebu," he said in an interview Tuesday in his office.

The CEO pointed out that Cebu remains to be a center for trade and commerce with other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

According to Cokaliong, many prime commodities are not directly present in other provinces and that they depend on the supplies from Cebu, which are transported through ships.

"Cargoes are supporting the industry whole-year round," he said.

In terms of passenger traffic, the Cebuano businessman said that it only picks up during peak seasons such as Sinulog, Holy Week and Christmas, among others.

For instance, he said the local shipping industry could experience a slowdown in passenger traffic this time until March just after the Sinulog festival and holiday season.

Additionally, the increase in tourist arrivals has also been cited to have supported the shipping industry as there are travelers who take passenger ferries to go to various tourist destinations instead of air transport.

Cokaliong said fares offered by shipping operators are still way cheaper compared to those offered by airline companies.  (FREEMAN)