Chinese eye port hub in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY – A Chinese group is looking at establishing a port hub in this city.

Mayor Jose Espinosa III has met with Philippine-based executives of SITC Container Co., a Shanghai-based company, a cargo shipper to major ports of Asia.

“We would be very thankful to have a (possible) port hub direct from China to Iloilo soon,” Espinosa said.

During the meeting, Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office chief Ritchel Gavan presented the city’s business-enabling environment.

SITC is the latest group to express interest in investing in Iloilo since President Duterte’s pivot to China last year.

A Chinese state-owned consultancy firm has already done a feasibility study for the proposed Iloilo-Guimaras bridge. This will be the first phase of an ambitious plan to build bridges connecting the Visayan islands.

Another Chinese firm, BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd., is eyeing a monorail system, while officials from Quanzhou City, Fujian, visited the city last month and talked about possible economic ties.

Anticipating more Chinese investors interested in Iloilo, Espinosa is pushing for the establishment of a Chinese consulate in the city.