By Janine Dumaguin
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) generated P20.4 billion in revenues in 2022, the highest collected since 1974.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago attributed this development to sound fiscal management and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
Santiago said the increase in revenue is by 16%, or more than the P17.5 billion in 2021 and P16.6 billion in 2020.
The PPA is aiming for a P21.6 billion collection in 2023.
“We believe this is a good sign and a great shift in gears during this rebound of the economy,” he said.
Santiago said it was in 2019 or pre-pandemic when the next highest total revenue of PPA was recorded at P18.3 billion.
“So my point is, we can always surpass the initial target because we have set our own high value goals,” Santiago added.
Also in 2022, there was a 7.15% increase of containers handled at ports nationwide. It caused a 5.01% improvement in the volume of domestic cargoes. There was also an 8.51% improvement in foreign containers volume.
Meanwhile, sea-going passengers had a 155.99% increase, equivalent to 35, 997, 226 passengers.
Shipcalls also had an increase of 25.31% for a total of 95,993, with domestic shipcalls attaining 26.22% or 96,352 shipcalls.
However, foreign shipcalls had a decline at 3.05% or only 359 shipcalls. -ag
