DAVAO BOMBING. An explosion hit a night market in Davao City on September 2, 2016, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 60 others. Photo by Manman Dejeto/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – A number of foreign countries have alerted their citizens not to travel to parts of the Philippines in the wake of the blast in Davao City where at least 14 people were killed and more than 60 others injured.

The United States Embassy has "temporarily suspended all official travel to Mindanao" despite no direct threat against US citizens in the country.

"The Embassy encourages all US citizens to remain vigilant and employ sound personal security measures as you go about your day. The Embassy will continue to monitor the current state of affairs in the Philippines and will release additional messages as needed," it said in its travel advisory.

Canada has also warned its citizens against traveling to Mindanao and Sulu.

"There is no nationwide advisory in effect for the Philippines. However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests," said the Canadian government.

The British Embassy, on the other hand, advised against "all but essential" travel to Eastern Mindanao where Davao City is. British citizens are also advised to refrain from traveling to the rest of the island.

"There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. There has been an increase in kidnapping of foreign nationals since late 2015. It's likely that terrorist groups continue to plan kidnap operations against western nationals in the region. You should remain vigilant at all times," said the British Embassy.

Australian citizens traveling to the Philippines are advised to exercise a "high degree of caution" while those going to Eastern Mindanao may "reconsider [their] need to travel." Those heading to Central and Western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu area, are advised not to go instead.

Meanwhile, Singaporeans in the Philippines are cautioned to "exercise vigilance, and monitor the local news and instructions of the local authorities." (For updates on the Davao blast, check Rappler's live blog) – Rappler.com</s>THE UNITED States, the United Kingdom and Australia on Saturday urged their citizens to take safety measures and avoid crowded areas following the explosion late Friday in a Davao City night market that killed at least 14 and wounded dozens.

In an “Emergency Message for US Citizens,” the US Embassy in Manila reiterated a previous warning of an “ongoing threat of terrorist actions and violence against United States citizens and interests abroad, including the Philippines,” and said it had suspended official travel of embassy personnel to Mindanao.

“The Embassy reminds US citizens of the importance of taking preventative measures to ensure their safety and security while traveling and residing in the Philippines,” it said.

The US Embassy also alerted Americans to the “knock and plead” operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP) “at those homes suspected of involvement in illegal drug operations,” including those in residential villages.

“Local PNP leadership has informed the embassy that the village sweeps are intended for the sole purpose of distributing information pamphlets so that residents know who to contact to report crimes or suspicious behavior,” it added.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all but essential travel to Mindanao, and “all travel to south-west Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of ongoing terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.”

“There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. There has been an increase in kidnapping of foreign nationals since late 2015. It’s likely that terrorist groups continue to plan kidnap operations against Western nationals in the region. You should remain vigilant at all times,” the UK warning said.

“You should avoid large crowds and demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities,” it added.

Level two

 Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) reminded its citizens of its existing travel alert warning level two on the Philippines.

Level two means there are bigger risks in the location than what would typically be found in a larger Australian city. It may also reflect a weak law and order system or deficiencies in public services.

“We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines due to the high threat of a terrorist attack and the high level of crime. You should pay close attention to your personal security at all times,” the department said on its website.

Terror organization Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for the blast, adding that similar attacks should be expected in the coming days in response to the all-out offensive of the military against the group.

“Australians in Davao should exercise heightened vigilance, avoid the affected area and follow the advice of local authorities,” the DFAT said.

The department also advised Australians to “reconsider” the need to travel to eastern Mindanao “due to the very high levels of violent crime and the high threat of terrorist attack and kidnapping.”

It also warned its citizens “not to travel” to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu archipelago and the southern Sulu Sea area “due to the very high threat of kidnapping, terrorist attack, violent crime and violent clashes between armed groups.”

Sympathies

 Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely expressed her sympathy to Davaoeños.

“My thoughts are with the people of #Davao. We stand by you. #StayStrongDavao,” she said on Twitter.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop extended her condolences, saying “Australia remains steadfast in our support for the Philippines in response to terrorism, and stands ready to offer any assistance to law enforcement authorities.”

In a statement released by the White House on Friday (Saturday in Manila), the United States expressed its condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the Davao City explosion.

National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the US “stands ready to provide assistance” to the ongoing investigation.

He added that US President Barack Obama would convey his personal condolences to President Rodrigo Duterte next week, when they meet during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vientiane, Laos.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg also offered his condolences through Twitter.

“My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the explosion in Davao City,” he said.</s>THE operator of the most modern port terminal in the Philippines said the Mindanao region can become the next transshipment point in Southeast Asia due to its modernized facilities and spacious terminals.

“Mindanao is ideal as a transshipment point in the region. Given the Asean integration, we find Davao and Mindanao in a very strong strategic position relative to other Asean states,” Alexander N. Valoria, president and CEO of Anflo Management & Investment Corp. (Anflocor), operator of Davao International Container Terminal Inc. (DICT) told reporters in a news briefing on Thursday.

Valoria said some cargo shipments from New Zealand, Indonesia and Australia are already bypassing Singapore and made DICT as their transshipment point.

“Singapore is very congested and expensive. The potential is for the Philippines and Mindanao,” Valoria said, adding that even the Port of Singapore Authority lauded the capabilities and potential of DICT.

“All the indigenous advantages are already here where we can springboard from and become a world- class terminal,” Valoria said.

He added that their port-terminal fees are way cheaper than those of Singapore.

“We are even lower than the government ports,” he said, but didn’t disclose any amount.

DICT completed its P5-billion expansion in August 2016. The completion of the second phase of DICT increases the total-handling capacity of the port to 800,000 TEUs from the current capacity of 300,000 TEUs, Valoria said.

“From two quay cranes, we now have four quay cranes, eight RTG [rubber-tired gantry] cranes and other various container-handling equipment,” he said.

The container port, which is adjacent to a 70-hectare export-processing zone, has an area of 11 hectares, backed up by a 15-hectare container yard, DICT said.

DICT said their recent expansion is a support to the anticipated economic growth and development of Mindanao, given the plans and outlook President Duterte on the region.

“A major component of the economic program is increased spending on infrastructure. The completion of the DICT project is seen to help improve the logistics backbone of Mindanao’s economy, as well as create jobs in areas less progressive,” DICT said in a statement.

DICT Vice President Bonifacio Licayan said the recent expansion enables DICT to handle Panamax and even post-Panamax-size vessels, a feat which the Manila Port can cater to, but on a restricted manner. Panamax vessels are midsized cargo ships capable of passing through the Panama Canal.

“They can handle the same vessel, but they are given restricted load, because the water in Manila is shallow. The freight can damage the port,” Licayan said.

The first-ever Panamax vessel the Philippines received docked in DICT on December 24, 2014, Valoria said.

“That vessel has never docked in any other port in the Philippines, but we receive that size of a vessel here regularly,” he said.

Aside from the port-terminal expansion, DICT also invested in a $1-million terminal operating system (TOS) called Navis from America-based Cargotec Corp. The top-of-the-line TOS allows a port-terminal operator to control and trace the port logistical and cargo operations in real time and paperless through high-tech technology system, DICT said.

“You don’t see us like other ports, which have spotters whose job is to look for containers physically. We do it automated with tracking numbers recorded and viewable in the TOS,” Licayan said.

Valoria said they edgedout other ports with their modernized facilities, which allow them to ease up their operation process from the usual three-day time frame to within hours, allowing them to service more vessels.

“The BOC called us the most modern port in the Philippines today. The level of our technology allows us for an integration from interface and shipping to the loading and departure of the vessel,” Valoria said.

“There is a number of competition. There are a number of private ports, but they don’t have the efficiency, they don’t have the gigantic cranes and modern facilities like us,” Valoria added.

Shipping lines that call on DICT include American President Lines, Maersk MCC, CMA CGM, Wan Hai Shipping Lines, Advance Container Lines (ACL), Regional Container Lines (RCL), Pacific International Lines (PIL), Mariana Express Lines and Cosco Shipping Lines.

Licayan said 85 percent of the volume of the cargoes they ship are fresh produce, including pineapples and bananas. DICT also handles dry cargoes like rubber and skin coconuts.

“We have more white containers than colored containers. It speaks a lot about DICT,” Licayan said, referring to reefer containers, which are refrigerated containers made specifically for fresh produce.

Licayan said DICT has 1,080 reefer tanks, meaning it is capable of handling 1,080 reefer containers at any given moment.

DICT said there are ongoing negotiations for additional shipping lines which would call the terminal soon. The company didn’t disclose any names of prospective shipping lines.

DICT said that they will hit their shipping target this year of 300,000 TEUs on the back of their recent improvements. DICT shipped 267,000 TEUs last year using only one berth, Valoria said.

DICT is a joint venture between Anflocor and Dole-Stanfilco, the leading producers and exporters of fresh Cavendish bananas in the Philippines. It was formerly known as San Vicente Terminal and Brokerage Services Inc., servicing the stevedoring and arrastre requirements of break bulk shipments of fresh produce like bananas and pineapples at the Tadeco wharf.
In light of the attacks, the governments of Australia, Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States issue travel warnings against going to Mindanao, Philippines.