Gov’t official sees need for more ports

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Trade and Industry has stressed the need to start putting up, as soon as possible, a new port in a new location to accommodate the expected rise in the volume of container shipments over the next five years.

On the sidelines of the Asean Business Awards Philippines 2014, Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said that the volume of container shipments being handled at the port could increase by 10 percent a year in the next five years, assuming a 6.5-percent economic growth and inflation of 4 percent.

“That means, in terms of container load, in five years, that will be (equivalent to) a 50-percent increase in volume. So we need to expand existing ports or build a new one. I’m not sure if the existing ports can handle a 50-percent increase in load—probably not. That means we have to start planning a new port,” Domingo said. “What I will suggest is that, if we will build a new port, it shouldn’t be in the same areas. It should be at the opposite side, like Cavite, so we can distribute the traffic and back that up with proper infrastructure.”

For now, the congestion at the Port of Manila has been contained due to the efforts of the government and private sector.

“Port operators need to address [container traffic]. They should talk to shipping lines to ensure that they take out the same [number of containers] as what they bring in,” he said.–Amy R. Remo