Gothong Southern attributes positive growth to workforce

CEBU, Philippines - It’s been a good year for Gothong Southern Shipping Lines and they attribute it to the people working for them and the support the company is getting from the people for their quality and well-maintained service.

In an interview with The Freeman, Alvin Suarez, the Vice President for Sales and marketing for Gothong Southern said that they are very happy with the turnout of their operations this year despite the financial crisis. This was noted as the company surpassed last year’s outcome for the whole year and the company has even exceeded their target for this year.

Suarez shared that they credit their success to their successful implementation of their goal in giving the best service and developing the people the “Gothong Southern Shipping way.”

“We have our own way of doing things and we do everything with passion and commitment. But more importantly, we are adhesive for safety and security.”

Suarez said that they have embraced this practice and like any company who is in the maritime industry, Suarez said that safety should be in the mindset of everyone giving this service.

He said that they do not see this as a burden in expenses but as a good investment.

In fact, Suarez said that they with this belief, their ambition is to be the safest shipping company in the Philippines.

Further, aside from the overwhelming support and positive feedback they have from their customers, successive recognitions have also been given to the company including this years’ cleanest ship for the Cargo Vessel category which went to MV Don Alfonso Sr. The award was handed out by the Bureau of Quarantine who in the same time gave the Chief cook award to Gabriel Mepa of MV Doña Rita of Gothong Southern Shipping Lines.

In 2007, MV Don Carlos Sr. was awarded the Cleanest Vessel in the same category by BOQ.

Suarez said that together with the company’s aim to assure safety and security, they also make sure that they practice utmost cleanliness in their ships.

He guaranteed that they practice cleanliness in all of their ships and reassures that they would always have this in the coming years.

Suarez said that a lot is expected from the company in the coming year, including 2010 where they would be having a new cargo ship that will be operating by January. Also, Gothong Southern would also be operating their own container yard in Manila by next year and will be adding new containers to support the increasing market they have.

Suarez said that with more and more players in the industry, they are not holding back in competing however they do not think of it too much as a competition but as a challenge to serve the people better.

Gothong Southern presently has five cargo vessels and one passenger ship, the MV Doña Rita that travel three times a week from Cebu- Cagayan-Cebu and Cagayan - Jagna - Nasipit - Jagna - Cagayan.

Suarez said that this has reaped very good reviews from the passengers and even inquiries on more routes and ships in the coming year. But he said that while this is part of the plans of the company, they will still be weighing all aspects since they do not want to expand for the sake of expansion. He said that they need to make sure first the readiness of the people, the smooth process and the organizations’ capability.

As of now, Suarez said that they are focusing on the services they are offering best which is on “shipping, logistics and ports and providing solutions for efficient and timely movement of goods and information.”