Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade commended the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), under the leadership of General Manager Jay Santiago, for its efforts to achieve seamless maritime transport interconnectivity in the country through the construction of numerous seaport projects.
“The Philippines is an archipelago. Kaya nga nagtayo ang DOTr at PPA ng maraming imprastruktura, ay para magkaroon ng connectivity among the islands, mobility of the people, and eventually public convenience,” Tugade said during the PPA’s 47th founding anniversary celebration on Monday (July 12).
“It was a huge challenge. But as we celebrate your 47th anniversary, masasabi kong kaya niyo, kinaya niyo, at ipinagmamalaki ko kayo,” Tugade said.
In his speech, Tugade lauded PPA achievements that include the completion of 451 port projects while working on 101 more.
PPA’s major projects
He also pointed out that one of the PPA’s “milestones and iconic projects” include the development of the country’s biggest passenger terminal building (PTB) to date, the Cagayan de Oro Port, which can accommodate 3,000 passengers at any given time, as compared to its previous 1,000-passenger capacity.
Also in the works are two more PTBs: one in the Port of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro and one in the Port of Zamboanga. Tugade said the Calapan Port PTB can handle a little over 3,000 passengers at one time, while the Zamboanga Port PTB will be able to accommodate 4,000 passengers at any given time.
PPA dividends to the national government
The transportation chief also noted the PPA’s “sound financial management” and record-breaking dividend remittance to support the completion of vital transport infrastructure projects in the country, and aiding the government’s COVID-19 response.
From 2016 to 2020, the PPA turned over a total of P17.39 billion in dividends, just P3 billion short of its total remittance from 1986-2015. The PPA in 2020 also remitted P1 billion for the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. And in May 2021, PPA remitted an additional P221 million to the National Treasury to further help the national government in its fight against COVID-19.
Pandemic-related projects
In the earlier stages of the pandemic, the PPA installed quarantine facilities at the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal in Pier 15 inside the Manila South Harbor, followed by the establishment of an isolation facility in the Port of Capinpin in Orion, Bataan.
For his part, Santiago credited Tugade’s guidance in leading his agency to achieve its goals and aspirations.
“Kung hindi dahil sa pamumuno ng kalihim at sa kanyang [Tugade] pag-gabay, hindi makakamtan ng PPA ang success na kanyang natatamasa, lalung-lalo na ngayong 47th founding anniversary,” Santiago said. (DOTr)- jlo