PPA to invest P16 billion in 14 big-ticket port projects

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will spend about P16 billion in the next four years to build several infrastructure projects, including 14 big-ticket port developments across the country, in line with the increasing passenger and cargo traffic.

Jay Daniel Santiago, general manager of the ports regulator, told reporters on Tuesday that the 14 major maritime projects were targeted to be completed by 2028.

READ: PPA seeks to boost cruise tourism with P743-million Aklan port

“We’ve started engaging consultancy services for the feasibility studies already,” he said.The study will involve site survey primarily to identify locations that require further connectivity via sea transport, Santiago explained. These projects are clustered into three sections based on island groups.

In Luzon, the projects are Port Capinpin Expansion project in Orion, Bataan; Currimao Port Expansion and Restoration project; Jose Panganiban Port Improvement project in Camarines Norte; Balogo Port in Camarines Sur; and Wharf in Claveria Port of Cagayan.

The projects in Visayas are Wharf and Operational area construction at Catacbacan Port in Loon, Bohol; Tapal Port Expansion in Ubay, Bohol; New Port Development projects in Lavezares, Northern Samar; Babatngon Port in Leyte; Banago Port Improvement Project in Negros Occidental; and Ormoc Port Extension Project in Leyte.

In Mindanao, the PPA will work on the construction of a cargo ship port in Dapa, Surigao del Norte; upgrading of general cargo berth at Davao City Port of Sasa; and expansion of Plaridel Port in Misamis Oriental.

Along with this, the PPA is also in the process of crafting a master plan to develop 10 sea terminals across the country.

READ: PPA set to start crafting ports development plans

These terminals are located in Davila, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Taytay, Palawan; Buenavista, Guimaras; San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Lazi, Siquijor; Catbalogan, Samar; Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur; and Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands.

This year, Santiago said passenger traffic would likely pick up by 30 to 33 percent while cargo movement would improve by 10 to 13 percent.

He expects seaports to get busier toward the end of the year because of the usual holiday traffic.PPA reported that passenger traffic on sea terminals had surged by 24 percent to 73.61 million last year from 59.19 million in 2022. However, this was still below the 2019 level of 83.72 million passengers.

Meanwhile, cargo throughput last year grew by about 5 percent to 271.97 million metric tons (MT) from 259.14 million MT in 2022. This exceeded the prepandemic volume of 265.88 million MT in 2019. INQ