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The Cagayan de Oro Port, also known as Macabalan Port, is being prepared for the revival of international container cargo operations
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Stakeholders held a forum on October 14 to discuss the transition, with focus on streamlining and harmonizing the documentary requirements for international container cargo
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Among the participants were the Bureau of Customs-Cagayan de Oro, private operator Oroport and shipping line CMA CGM
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The Cagayan de Oro City traffic office will clear roads around the port as container operations begin
The Bureau of Customs Port of Cagayan de Oro (BOC-CDO) joined Oroport Cargo Handling Services, Inc., shipping line CMA CGM and other stakeholders in a forum on October 14 where they discussed strengthening collaboration to revitalize Macabalan Port by streamlining containerized cargo operations.
The forum, held at the at Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, focused on ways to rationalize and harmonize the documentary requirements for international container cargo among the BOC, Oroport and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), according to the BOC-CDO.
Oroport Vice President Michael Teotico said the transition of international container operations to Macabalan in CDO is meant to open more economic opportunities for the city and the wider Misamis Oriental province. He added that the move is expected to spur regional growth.
Meanwhile, exporters and importers raised operational concerns during the gathering, and discussed ways to reduce shipment delays and keep cargo moving.
BOC-CDO District Collector Arnaldo Saulong acknowledged that the transition may bring operational challenges, but gave assurance that the agency will address them through close coordination and quick action to keep the changeover smooth.
Traffic management around the port
The CDO city government’s Roads and Traffic Administration will carry out clearing operations in barangays around the port to ease congestion as international container operations start.
The BOC said the effort follows commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno’s directive to strengthen stakeholder coordination, address operational problems quickly and promote efficient port operations.
Macabalan’s container history
Macabalan Wharf, or the port of Cagayan de Oro, used to handle international container cargo, but stopped in early 2000s when import facilitation moved to the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) sub-port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
In April 2021, the BOC said it wanted to restore the port’s status as an international shipment facility. The move followed requests from shipping lines led by American President Lines. The lines estimated 300 to 400 containers per week, and the PPA had allotted 23,000 square meters of the designated port area. The PPA also started upgrading stacking capacity to handle international cargo.
On March 14, 2022, the port received its first foreign container ship in 11 years, according to PortCalls’ report at the time. The Portuguese-flagged AS Romina, operated by CMA CGM, arrived from China with 2,961 TEUs, including 2,808 import TEUs. Cargo included buttermilk, dry veneer, frozen products, truck parts, appliances and furniture. CMA CGM then expected three to four international container calls a month.
Oroport has handled cargo at the port since 2004. In September 2025, the PPA moved berth assignment authority at Cagayan de Oro port to Oroport through Administrative Order 007-2025, while keeping departure clearance and oversight of berthing disputes.
What it means for logistics stakeholders
- Exporters and importers in Northern Mindanao: Harmonized documentary requirements across the BOC, Oroport and the PPA could cut paperwork and shipment delays, if they are applied consistently on the ground.
- Shipping lines and forwarders: A direct international container call at Macabalan can reduce the need to route cargo through other terminals. CMA CGM’s involvement signals carrier interest in the port.
- Truckers and port-area businesses: More container traffic raises the risk of congestion, which is why the traffic clearing operations matter. Plan for route and schedule changes around the port.
