Cokaliong flexes muscle, expands amid pandemic

CEBU, Philippines —  Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., is one of the few companies in Cebu that showed agility by pursuing expansion plans amid the global pandemic.

Chester Cokaliong, the shipping company’s founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), is an example of a resilient business owner, who conquered uncertainties with courage to step up while they also are suffering the brunt of the economic slowdown.

In June this year, Cokaliong Shipping invested an estimate of P430 million for the acquisition of M/V “Filipinas Mindanao”, including renovation and taxes. It is by far, the biggest investment poured in by a company in Cebu in the middle of a pandemic.

While passenger service is still temporarily halted, Cokaliong said the company noted an increasing volume of cargoes in all its ports of call.

“Since March and up to now, our shipping operations have remained normal except that we don’t carry passengers, only cargo. There has been an increase in cargo volume because of the demand,” he said.

Driven by its commitment to provide world class inter-island service, Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., brings in its first brand new ship to ply the Cebu-Nasipit-Cebu route in 2021.

M/V “Filipinas Agusan del Norte” is the first brand new vessel built by the company since its establishment 30 years ago.

While the shipping company has not been spared from the Covid-19 infused economic slack, it is stretching its monetary muscle further to hire at least 50 personnel for the M/V Filipinas Mindanao entry.

Cakaliong said his shipping firm is keeping its over 800 workers, housing some of them in Bayfront Hotel, while others are well-provided by the company in terms of transportation and food, including health safety measures since Cebu City was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) since mid-March and up until June.

Notwithstanding health crisis, and the new normal era onwards, Cokaliong Shipping Lines is steadfast in its commitment to be in the forefront of providing only the best in service and safety inter-island transport.

It is continually investing in ship modernization/acquisition, service sophistication, backed up with its varied international service standard certifications, such as IMO (International Maritime Organization), certification seal from Bureau Veritas (BV) and RINA in Italy which are both members of IACS.

Cokaliong Shipping Lines is a consistent award winning shipping operator in the Philippines, drawing attention from various award giving bodies here and abroad for its exemplary service to the country’s inter-island shipping industry—excelling in the business, pushing other players to follow its example.

In today’s challenging times, Cokaliong is making another history—switching on a ray of light, activating courage in an otherwise gloomy business environment.