Despite COVID crisis, PPA gets its highest users' rating under Duterte admin

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has attained its highest user-generated rating under the current Duterte administration at 85.96 percent.

"This is the cherry on top. The way we perform and deliver our commitments will speak for itself and nothing can take that away from the authority,” said PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago in a statement Thursday, Aug. 19 as he welcomed the positive development.

The 85.96 percent rating was based on the result of the 2020 Port Users’ Annual Satisfaction Survey (PASS), where the PPA secured the "very satisfactory" level in three of the biggest key indicators. These are facilities, integrity, and staff and organization.

Between 2016 and 2019, the PPA had recorded satisfaction ratings of 75 percent, 84 percent, 82 percent, and 82.38 percent for those four respective years.

"These figures are an uptick from the PPA's annual satisfaction rating of only 63 percent under the previous administration," the statement read.

The latest survey was carried out by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in the 25 port management offices of the PPA nationwide. An estimated 800 port users and passengers served as poll respondents.

The survey report incidate that overall, the PPA was able to deliver satisfactory services across all covered attributes.

“Despite the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic, respondents feel safe and secure inside the ports. They also agreed that the ports have measures to promote integrity and address corruption while PPA personnel have neat appearances, professionals, convey trust and confidence and treats customer with respect,” the report said.

Santiago reckoned that the 2020 PASS result validates the claim that PPA has come a long way in terms of integrity and transparency as well as in offering world-class facilities and services to its users.

“With the strong leadership of DOTr (Department of Transportation) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, coupled with the dedication and unified commitment of PPA personnel to attain excellence in public service, PPA can be one of the most transparent and trusted agencies of the government,” the general manager noted.